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Seadrift adopts new 2026-27 tax rates

October 7, 2026

The Seadrift City Council adopted its 2026-27 tax rate Sept. 28 during a special meeting following a short discussion. The overall combined rate is $0.6881 per $100 of...

Photo by CJ VETTER
Dr. William Crowley, a member of the Memorial Medical Center Board of Managers, speaks during the board's Sept. 30 meeting in the hospital's community room.

Hospital reports $325,000 loss in August

October 7, 2026

Memorial Medical Center reported another financial loss in August according to a report given Sept. 30 during a regular monthly meeting of the MMC...

By CJ Vetter

Calhoun County commissioners accepted a bid for construction of the Magnolia Beach Volunteer Fire Station Sept. 30 following a rebidding of the project. Commissioners also approved up to $2.86 million in funding for Memorial Medical Center as needed.
Commissioners unanimously accepted a bid of $1.87 million from Noble Building & Development, LLC, for construction of the new Magnolia Beach station. The project is funded by a General Land Office Community Development Block Grant awarded to the county for disaster mitigation and is expected to be completed within 220 days of groundbreaking.
“G&W [Engineers] has reviewed the contract [with] no objection [to] what is being considered,” G&W Engineers representative Anthony Gohlke said. “G&W Engineers Incorporated recommends, based on this information, that we approve this contract with Noble Building & Development LLC and get [the] fire station started.”
“When’s the start date on this?” Calhoun County Judge Vern Lyssy asked. “I don’t want this to fall in the cracks again.”
“I don't have [that] information. I’m sorry,” Gohlke said.
Following a presentation by MMC CFO Michelle Cumberland, commissioners unanimously authorized MMC to request up to $2.86 million as needed. The money will be drawn from a contingency fund set aside by the county and will be used to cover an intergovernmental transfer for the federal Quality Incentive Payment Program and temporary cash-flow gaps as MMC moves away from its current revenue cycle management company.
“Memorial Medical Center is asking Calhoun County for approximately $2.8 million in support between the months of October and December of 2026. One of those items is for the December QIPP [intergovernmental transfer] payment,” Cumberland said.
Cumberland explained that the QIPP transfer is part of a payment by the government and returned $1.6 million in net revenue the year prior. She also said that funds used for temporary gaps in cash will cover payroll and vendor payments until late payments arrive.
“This would be the second half of that payment, and then the other $1.5 million is just to cover a temporary cash gap. We're moving away from our current revenue cycle management company, and so because of changes in the way that our insurance will be processed and notifying payers, there will be a time where we will not be getting as much money coming from claims, so we're worried that there may be a cash gap during that time,” Cumberland said.
“I would like to point out though that the balance that we have in the contingency, I think it's like $2.6 million. I'd have to look to get the exact number, but I believe when I looked at this before, [we] didn't quite have enough for $1.5 million, and maybe like $1.3 or 4 million, based on what's in the balance in the contingency,” Calhoun County Auditor Lucy Dio said.
A piece of property obtained by the county in 1947 originally valued at $100 to $150 was unanimously approved to be sold by the commissioners following a request by Seadrift Mayor Bill Cathey. The 50-foot by-52-foot bayfront-adjacent property is currently appraised at $85,650.
“The city mayor asked if we would consider putting it back on the roll so that they can get a little more tax money off of it, and the county has no actual use for it,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Gary Reese said.
Commissioners unanimously recognized October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Calhoun County Judge Vern Lyssy issued a proclamation, and The Harbor Children’s Alliance and Victim Center Director Maria Walton addressed commissioners about the observance.
“We're here to ask you to sign a proclamation designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence thrives in the dark. For too long, fear of judgment, isolation, or financial dependence has forced individuals in our community to suffer alone,” Walton said. “By issuing this proclamation today, this court is shining a much-needed light on a crisis that affects families right here in Calhoun County.”
Commissioners unanimously recognized Oct. 4-10, 2026, as National 4-H Week. Following a presentation by Calhoun County 4-H students, Lyssy commented on the students’ speaking skills.
“I do want to encourage everybody on Monday to wear green in support of Calhoun 4-H and 4-H across the nation, and if you want to send a picture of yourself wearing green to me, then I can post it on our social media to paint the world green on Monday.” Calhoun AgriLife Extension Agent and 4-H Director Emily DeForest said.
“You can see how their speaking is better and better each year,” Lyssy said.
The Calhoun County Commissioners Court meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Calhoun County Courthouse in the Commissioners Courtroom. For more information and to see future agendas, visit www.calhouncotx.org/commissioners-court/.

Commissioners approve station contract, hospital funds

October 7, 2026

Calhoun County commissioners accepted a bid for construction of the Magnolia Beach Volunteer Fire Station Sept. 30 following a rebidding of the...

Contributed photo
Charles Hicks, of Dallas, pilots a 40-foot motorized U.S. Coast Guard boat in Matagorda Bay in 1962 while assigned to the Search and Rescue Unit located on Matagorda Island. Hicks joined the unit in 1960. He served his last 6 months on the island, and was honorably discharged in 1964.

He saved our lives’: Coast Guardsman’s heroism remembered 65 years...

October 7, 2026

“He saved our lives.”That one social media comment on the Facebook page POC People in August led to a recent meeting between former Coast Guard...

Photo by CJ VETTER
Fish-O-Ree organizer Ronald Crain holds a collage of photos presented to him by his son Sept. 30.

Fishing fun for 50 years: Local scouting fishing event celebrates...

October 7, 2026

Scouting America hosted its Fish-O-Ree fishing tournament Sept. 12, giving children of all ages a day of fun and prizes while marking its 50th...

Judge temporarily blocks CCISD budget, tax rate, VATRE, school...

October 5, 2026

Lawsuit alleges Open Meetings Act violations; temporary injunction hearing set for Oct. 14A Calhoun County district judge has temporarily blocked Calhoun County ISD from...

Photo by CJ VETTER
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Director Jeremy Bowen, Director Mehdi Reisi Fard, Senior Project Manager Adrian Muniz and Environmental Project Manager Joe O’Hara sit on a panel at the Bauer Community Center Sept. 22.

NRC answers community questions during public hearing

September 30, 2026

A panel of Nuclear Regulatory Commission members answered questions during a public hearing Sept. 22 at the Bauer Community Center. The hearing is...

Point Comfort voters to decide term extension Nov. 3

September 30, 2026

Countywide races, CCISD tax proposition also on ballotPOINT COMFORT — Point Comfort residents will have the choice to extend terms of their council members and mayor during...

Board changes committee policy, reviews grant report

September 30, 2026

The Calhoun County Independent School District Board of Trustees updated its committee policy Sept. 21 following concerns about the process for creating committees. A...

Port Lavaca launches alert system

September 30, 2026

The city of Port Lavaca has a new emergency notification system for residents following a change in providers in August.Port Lavaca is now using...

Seadrift adopts budget, postpones tax-rate votes

September 23, 2026

The Seadrift City Council adopted its 2026-27 fiscal year budget Sept. 17 following a public hearing but postponed votes on the city’s tax rates until Sept. 24.In separate...

County pursues bird walk grant, approves Operation Lone Star loan

September 23, 2026

Calhoun County commissioners agreed to seek grant funding for an ADA-compliant bird walk and authorized a $175,000 interfund loan for the 2027 Operation Lone Star grant...

PHOTO BY CJ VETTER
Port Lavaca Animal Control officer Tracy Horejsi receives a certificate, check, service pin and giant stuffed animal from Mayor Luis De La Garza in recognition of his 10 years of service to the city during the Sept. 14 Port Lavaca City Council meeting.

Port Lavaca moves forward with proposed budget, tax rate

September 23, 2026

The Port Lavaca City Council again approved the first reading of its proposed 2026-27 budget Monday, Sept. 21, after repeating the required public...

PHOTO BY CJ VETTER

Climbing in honor: First responders scale stadium in memory of 9/11

September 16, 2026

Calhoun County firefighters and volunteers scale the steps of Sandcrab Stadium in Port Lavaca Sept. 13. The stair climb honored the memory of the...

Contributed photo
Port Lavaca Clinic has stood on North Virginia Street since opening 65 years ago. The building is one of the few in the city to retain a “Viking” architectural style, according to Dr. John Wright.

Port Lavaca Clinic marks 65 years of service

September 16, 2026

Port Lavaca Clinic is celebrating 65 years of operation this September, having served the community from its unique facility on North Virginia...

Our Lady Of The Gulf Catholic School

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