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· NO CONTESTED CITY, SCHOOL RACES; SARDELICH UNOPPOSED FOR MAYOR
· COUNCIL MEETING CANCELED; WATER-SEWER RATE WORKSHOP RESCHEDULED
· AFTER 38-YEARS, MEMORIAL SERVICE SET FOR FORMER MIA MAJ. CURTIS DANIEL MILLER
· COUNTY SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON FUTURE PLANS FOR TRANSIT SERVICES
· FRANKSONS BAY CITY CofC CATTLE PRODUCERS OF THE YEAR
· CHAMBER MEMBERS TOLD ABOUT ALCO STORE OPENING APRIL 21
· MATAGORDA COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES TO 12.1-PERCENT
· JANET HICKL WINS PRIMARY RACE FOR MATAGORDA COUNTY CLERK
· CITY, SCHOOL DISTRICT CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE IS MONDAY
NO CONTESTED CITY, SCHOOL RACES; SARDELICH UNOPPOSED FOR MAYOR
 [John Sardelich]For what is believed to be the first time in history, the City of Palacios and the Palacios School District have no contested races the same year and this year’s elections may be canceled. The city, however, will still have a special election on May 8, seeking voter approval to change the classification on uses of the city’s half-cent economic development sales tax from 4A to 4B. The 5 p.m. Monday candidate filing deadline passed with none of the four City Council and two School Board positions attracting competition. The ballots, with names, is completed with the following line-up:
For Palacios City Council— Mayor: John Sardelich; Place 1: incumbent Andy Erdelt; Place 2: incumbent Mike Witte; Place 6: Troy Lewis. For School Board— Position 3: incumbent Mary West; Position 4: incumbent Stephen Stuhrenberg. However, write-in candidates for either election have until 5 p.m. next Monday (March 15) to sign-in. That is also the deadline for a candidate to withdraw or be declared ineligible and have his or her name omitted from the ballot. March 16 at 5 p.m. is the earliest one or both of the position elections can be canceled. The city last canceled its annual election in 1997 when three incumbents, Witte, Terry Mosier and Ed Shultze drew no opponents. PISD canceled its election last year when incumbents Patty Frankson and Carlos Ottino were unopposed. When Sardelich is elected mayor, he will have to resign his Place 4 position on the City Council before being sworn in. Council will appoint someone to complete the Place 4 term, which expires next year. |
COUNCIL MEETING CANCELED; WATER-SEWER RATE WORKSHOP RESCHEDULED
The Palacios City Council canceled its regular meeting that had been scheduled for Tuesday (March 9) and also rescheduled the workshop-study session on a completed analysis of the city’s water and sewer rates that had been slated for Wednesday (March 10) to 6 p.m. next Wednesday, March 17.
Lack of business items for the council to act on was cited by City Secretary Keri Berger as the reason for canceling the regular meeting date.
The workshop session on the initial draft of analyst Robert McLain’s detailed review of the water-sewer rates, the first such complete study in about 30 years, was moved to a week later at McLain’s request.
Results of the analysis, along with decisions on various options, will aid the council in determining the water and sewer rates needed to help finance a proposed bond issue of about $2-million for water and sewer improvements, including a new well.
The next regular council meeting is March 23.
AFTER 38-YEARS, MEMORIAL SERVICE SET FOR FORMER MIA MAJ. CURTIS DANIEL MILLER
 After 38 years of having been listed as “Missing In Action” (MIA) as a result of the Vietnam War, the family of former Palacian and PHS graduate Major Curtis Daniel (Dan) Miller has recently been notified by the U.S. Air Force that his remains have been found.Services to honor Dan’s love and sacrifice for his country are being planned for 2 p.m. March 29, 2010 (the date he became missing in 1972) at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway in Dallas. He will be honored with full military honors. All of Dan’s friends, and especially classmates, are invited to attend. Dan grew up in Palacios. He was the son of Nell and the late Paul Miller. Click Here For Full Story |
COUNTY SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON FUTURE PLANS FOR TRANSIT SERVICES
Palacios and Bay City area residents will have the opportunity to voice their opion on what kind of transit services they would like to see in Matagorda County at ‘Open Houses’ to be held next week.
At each of the open houses, participants will have the opportunity to learn about transit choices, talk with project staff, and give their input.
On Tuesday (March 16), county residents are invited to come to the Bay City Civic Center between 12:30-1:30 p.m., or between 6-7 p.m.
Another ‘Open House’ will be held the following day (Wednesday, March 17) at the Palacios Recreation Center from 12:30-1:30 p. and 6-7 p.m.
Transit service is currently available in Matagorda County. RTransit is the local service operated by Friends of Elder Citizens through the Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission.
However, the service is limited by lack of funding and is currently used mostly by people who are elderly.
The need for more transit service – better access to jobs, education and services - is much greater than what the county currently is organized to deliver. The Matagorda County Transit Service Plan will take on the challenge of identifying what those new services need to be and how to pay for them.
Representatives from some of the county’s major organizations and agencies are hoping to change that. They are partnering with the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the Texas Department of Transportation to plan improvements to the transit services in Matagorda County.
People can learn more at www.matagordacountytransitplan.com. The site contains information on Matagorda Transit Service and Coordination Plan, a timeline, and a link to an on-line survey.
For more information, please contact Susan Maclay, Project Manager with The Goodman Corporation, at (512) 236-8002 or email smaclay@thegoodmancorp.com.
FRANKSONS BAY CITY CofC CATTLE PRODUCERS OF THE YEAR
 THE Bay City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s ag committee, Bay City Feed and the Matagorda County Cattlemen’s Association honored David “Brother” and Patty Frankson as the 2009 Cattle Producers of the Year. Pictured are: George Harrison, Matagorda County Cattlemen’s Association president; Cathy Gann, BCCC chairperson; and Stephen Zapalac, BCCC ag committee chairman; Patty and David ‘Brother’ Frankson. (Photo by Heather Menzies, BC Tribune)
••••••• The Bay City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s ag committee chose Palacios ranchers David “Brother” and Patty Frankson as their Cattle Producers of the Year.Brent Batchelor, Matagorda County Agrilife Extension agent, introduced the Franksons as “exemplary cattle producers” who are known to have good management practices. The Franksons began their cattle business in the 1950s and have been in the business as a family all of their lives. “They also set a high goal of volunteerism in the community,” said Batchelor. They are members of the Palacios Youth Supporters that donate money towards youth exhibitors in the Matagorda County Fair. They have also been involved as volunteers at the Palacios Recreation Center. Patty has served many terms as a trustee on the Palacios ISD board of directors and both have been involved as club managers for Matagorda County 4-H. |
CHAMBER MEMBERS TOLD ABOUT ALCO STORE OPENING APRIL 21
Palacios’ newest business, the ALCO store under construction next to Super S Foods on Henderson Avenue, is scheduled for opening on April 21.
That was the word from store manager Alex Bran as he presented a program on the national chain department store at the monthly luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce last Thursday.
Palacios becomes the 29th city in Texas with an ALCO store, while the chain’s companion Duckwall stores are in eight Texas cities. All are headquartered along with the distribution center in Abilene, Kansas, where the company originated in 1901.
Bran said the Palacios store, to be open seven days a week with some 21,000-square feet of selling space, will be a full line department-type store including clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, electronics, household and personal products, lawn and garden items, etc.
The store, with 25-30 employees, will be open from 8-to-8, Monday thru Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Employees are still being hired, Bran said.
Assisting Bran will be three group managers, who are currently undergoing training at the ALCO store in Yoakum.
Nationally, there are more than 250 company stores in 23 states, mostly in the central part of the United States, from the Canadian border to the Mexico border.
During the Chamber meeting, President Leland Singer introduced ALCO and the Don Davis Dealerships in El Campo and Bay City as new members of the Palacios CofC.
Mitch Thames of Bay City, a board member of the Rio Colorado Chapter of the Red Cross, cited the urgent need to raise funds for the Red Cross to be spent in Matagorda County. Thames suggested that clubs, organizations and businesses each make a pledge that they would “attempt to raise $1,000 by June,” then hold some type of “fun activity” as fund-raising activities.
MATAGORDA COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES TO 12.1-PERCENT
Although the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.2-percent in January, it jumped up more than a half-percent in Matagorda County according to the latest figures released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
The county’s jobless rate continued in double-digits last month as it hit 12.1-percent. That was up from 11.5-percent in December and was the 15th highest among all Texas counties.
In comparision, this January’s unemployment rate was substantially higher than the 9.3-percent recorded for January of last year.
According to the TWC, of Matagorda County’s labor force of 18,177, a total of 2,206 were unemployed.
“The Texas unemployment rate held steady over the past two months at 8.2 percent and remained lower than the national rate of 9.7 percent,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Tom Pauken.
Matagorda County’s double-digit jobless rate for January was significantly higher than that for adjacent counties. The lowest was for Jackson County where 7.7-percent of the workforce was unemployed. Wharton County posted a rate of 8.7-percent followed by Brazoria County at 9.4-percent and Calhoun County at 9.8-percent.
JANET HICKL WINS PRIMARY RACE FOR MATAGORDA COUNTY CLERK
 Janet Hickl, a former 15-year employee of the County Clerk’s Office, is on her way to becoming Matagorda County’s new County Clerk in January.In the lone countywide contested race in last week’s primary elections, Hickl defeated Janice Hawthorne, 1660 to 1093 to win the Democrat party nomination to succeed Gail Denn, who did not seek a fourth term. No Republican filed for the office. Hickl had previously made an unsuccessful run for the job in 1998, when Denn was elected. A total of 5,150 Matagorda Countians voted in last week’s primaries – a turnout of 24.66% of the county’s 20,883 registered voters. PCT. 4 RACES Democrat incumbents won in three of four contested precinct level offices and have no Republican opponents.Pct. 4 (Blessing, Markham, Midfield and section of Bay City) County Commissioner David Joe “Woody” Woodson defeated challenger Pablo Dominguez, 668 to 223, for a second term. Pct. 4 Justice of Peace Aaron Green won a sixth term in defeating Gary Piwonka, 662 to 259. Pct. 1 JP Jeanette Bell won over Robert Matthews, 428 to 354, for a second term. PCT. 2 RUNOFF The decision on a Democrat nominee for a new Pct. 2 County Commissioner (Matagorda, Sargent and a section of Bay City) is going to the April 13 runoff primary.Kent Pollard, in the hardware-ranching business, who received 43% of the vote last week, will face-off against former county sheriff, James Mitchell, who polled 32% in the three-man race. The runoff victor will face Republican Dennis Simons in the November general election, with the winner succeeding the retiring dean of the Commissioner’s Court, George Deshotels. [Section 11.01 of the Texas Election Code states that voters who voted in a main primary election for one party, cannot participate in the runoff primary election of another party.] UNCONTESTED COUNTY RACES In uncontested countywide elections, District Clerk Becky Denn led the Democrat ballot with 2,320 votes, followed by County Judge Nate McDonald, 2,294; and County Treasurer Amy Perez, 2,284. None have GOP rivals in the general election.DISTRICT RACES District 14 U.S. Congressman Ron Paul swept past three opponents to win nomination for an eighth consecutive term. Paul tallied 85.97% of the Republican vote in Matagorda County and won 80.8% of the district-wide GOP ballots.Robert Pruett, police chief at Galena Park, who resides on a ranch near Brazoria, and Winston Cochran, an attorney who lives in League City, will be in the April 13 runoff to determine the Democrat challenger to Paul in November. Pruett won the Matagorda County vote, with 50.45% of the Democrat vote to 585 for Jeff Cherry and 472 for Cochran. District-wide, Pruett polled 41.6% and Cochran, 31.1% to Cherry’s 27.3%. GOVERNOR’S RACE County Republicans joined their fellow GOP voters statewide in nominating Gov. Rick Perry for a new term, giving Perry 52% of their vote to 27% for Kay Bailey Hutchison and 21% to Debra Medina.County Democrats also joined their statewide comrades in easily tapping former Houston mayor Bill White as their man to challenge Gov. Perry in the November showdown. White polled nearly 84% of the county vote in the field of seven candidates. Statewide, White won with 76% of the votes. County Republicans were in almost identical step with their counterparts across the state as they approved four the five non-binding GOP propositions by more than 91% each and the fifth (requiring sonograms for expectant mothers deciding on elective abortion) by about 69%. |
CITY, SCHOOL DISTRICT CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE IS MONDAY
With six positions up for voter verdicts in the May 8 Palacios City Council and Palacios School Board elections, there’s a candidate for each chair, but no contested race— as of Monday afternoon.
The deadline for candidate filing in both elections is 5 p.m. next Monday (March 8).
A candidate for each position was assured as trustee Stephen Stuhrenberg submitted his application for a sixth term in on the PISD School Board and Councilman John Sardelich declared for the open Mayor’s chair on City Council.
In addition to Stuhrenberg, the PISD election has Mary West seeking her first full three-year term.
While Sardelich seeks the Mayor’s position, three other positions on the council have expiring terms and the candidates as of Monday afternoon were: incumbent Andy Erdelt for a fourth term at Place 1; incumbent Mike Witte for a third term at Place 2; and former councilman Troy Lewis seeking to return to the panel in the open Place 6 chair being vacated by Mark Latapie.
If no contested race, the two elections will be canceled— but the city will still have a special election on May 8, on changing its economic development sales tax from a 4A classification to a more-locally benefited 4B.
Should Sardelich be elected Mayor, the council will appoint someone to complete his Place 4 term, which expires next year.
School Board candidates are to file at the PISD Administration Building on 12th St. City Council candidates are to file with City Secretary Keri Berger at City Hall. Both places will remain open until 5 p.m. Monday.
Early in-person voting for both elections, at the PISD administration building, will begin April 26 and continue thru May 4.
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