Page design front 2014
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Vol. 169 No. 81 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2014 $1 Matagorda County’s Leading Information Source Since 1845 Domestic violence affects 1 in 4 Rep. Farenthold visits MEHOP Bull Riding Action October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month Health program looks to U.S. Representative for support as center grows Domestic violence transcends every socio- economic status, every ethnic, religious and educational background, infiltrating and affecting every community across the nation, including Matagorda County. A deplorable malady with serious consequences that result in the displacement, hospitalization and even death of thousands of innocent victims each year, domestic violence gains power through silence. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 85 percent of domestic violence victims are women. Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to police. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and a time for communities to come together to lift the veil of silence by shining light on the issue, bringing forth change for the future. First observed in October of 1981 as a day of unity by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the event continued to expand from local, to state and national levels, helping battered women’s advocates across the nation get the word out to end the violence. Anyone can be susceptible to domestic violence, regardless of race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or economic status. With the U.S. House in recess, U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold has been making the rounds in Bay City. The current recess, which is provided to allow Representatives and their staffs a “state/district work period,” officially runs Oct. 6-Nov. 7. Farenthold got a head start and was in Bay City last week. His activities included accepting an invitation from the Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program, MEHOP, Friday morning. “We invited him to visit during Health Center Week in August but he was unable to come,” MEHOP CEO Celeste Harrison said. “So he was gracious enough to visit us this time.” As a federally qualified health center, Harrison said it was important to be able to share with Farenthold the various works and activities offered by MEHOP on a regular basis. With patient numbers growing, Harrison is looking for the continued support of Farenthold. See VIOLENCE, Page 5A See MEHOP, Page 3A Matagorda County Commissioners approved the purchase of a new financial software package for the auditor’s office and payroll. During Monday’s regular meeting, the commissioners acted on a recommendation from County Auditor Cathy Ezell to approve a State Department of Information Resources Contract with STW for the purchase of financial software. The cost of the new software is $146,656. “The contract on our current software runs out next year,” Ezell said. “It would have cost us $287,000 to keep the same vendor. Fulfilling our (financial) responsibility to the county’s tax payers, we went out to look for a better bid.” According to a spokesperson for STW, they currently serve approximately 70 governmental accounts in Texas. He said one of the benefits of their service is that each time they have to upgrade a portion of the software for one client, all of the other clients receive the same upgrade. That includes changes made by federal and state agencies and is included as part of the annual maintenance agreement. According to Ezell, the county could save even more over the lifetime of the contract. “The bid includes a 20 percent contingency,” Ezell said. “So if we don’t have anything major ‘blow up,’ the county will be able to retain those funds.” She said the county’s existing computer hardware is compatible with the new software package and will not need to be replaced to accommodate the change over. County commissioners also approved a financing plan with Government Capital Corporation. According to Ezell, the county’s payments will be for $32,492 per year for five years to fit it easier into a single budget year. She said the payments would not start until the 2015 fiscal year, which begins on Jan. 1, and the interest rate is 3.14 percent. County changes software vendor The Matagorda County Fair and Livestock Association’s (MCFLA) hosted the 19 th annual Bull Blast at the fairgrounds Saturday, Oct. 4. This year’s Bull Blast, with the professional Lester Meier Rodeo Company, featured legendary rodeo clown Leon Coffee and plenty of bull riding action. The sanctioned event also featured Matagorda’s finest “Mutton Bustin” kids trying their best to hang on the longest. Jonnie Montalbo / Bay City Tribune Classified ....... 7B Entertainment . . 7A Lifestyle........ 3B Memos ........ 2A Obituaries ...... 2A Opinion........ 4A Sports .......... 1B WHAT’SINSIDE 3DAYOUTLOOK DEATHS/2A Wednesday Thursday Friday 73/89 73/87 73/89 Tides High: 3:34 a.m. Low: 11:48 a.m. Tides High: 2:42 a.m. Low: 12:35 p.m. Tides High: 2:29 a.m. Low: 1:27 p.m. • Alec Garrison • Moses Green • Richard Mesey • Matthias Ottis Jr. U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold listens to MEHOP CEO Celeste Harrison explain the various services provided by her group. Farenthold made a number of information stops in the community last week. In addition to the MEHOP visit, he also attended Thursday’s Tenaris reception. Jonnie Montalbo [email protected] Barry Halvorson [email protected] Barry Halvorson [email protected] By The Numbers 1 in 4 - Number of women in the U.S. who report intimate partner violence 92 - Percentage of homeless women with children reporting domestic abuse 35 - Average number of times an abuser hits his spouse before she makes a police report Barry Halvorson / Bay City Tribune Rice Festival magazine inside Motorcycle ‘Fund Run’ Lifestyles, 3B
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Transcript of Page design front 2014
Vol. 169 No. 81 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2014 $1
Matagorda County ’s Leading In format ion Sour ce Since 1845
Domestic violence affects 1 in 4
Rep. Farenthold visits MEHOP
Bull Riding Action
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Health program looks to U.S. Representative for support as center grows
Domestic violence transcends every socio-economic status, every ethnic, religious and educational background, infiltrating and affecting every community across
the nation, including Matagorda County.A deplorable malady with
serious consequences that result in the displacement, hospitalization and even death of thousands of innocent victims each year, domestic violence gains power through silence.According to the
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 85 percent of domestic violence victims are women. Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to police. October is Domestic
Violence Awareness month and a time for communities to come
together to lift the veil of silence by shining light on the issue, bringing forth change for the future. First observed in October
of 1981 as a day of unity by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the event continued to expand from local, to state and national
levels, helping battered women’s advocates across the nation get the word out to end the violence.Anyone can be susceptible
to domestic violence, regardless of race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or economic status.
With the U.S. House in recess, U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold has been making the rounds in Bay City. The current recess,
which is provided to allow Representatives and their staffs a “state/district work period,” officially runs Oct. 6-Nov. 7. Farenthold got a head start and was in Bay City last week. His activities included accepting an invitation from the Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program, MEHOP, Friday morning.
“We invited him to visit during Health Center Week in August but he was unable to come,” MEHOP CEO Celeste Harrison said. “So he was gracious enough to visit us this time.” As a federally qualified health
center, Harrison said it was important to be able to share with Farenthold the various works and activities offered by MEHOP on a regular basis. With patient numbers growing, Harrison is looking for the continued support of Farenthold.
See VIOLENCE, Page 5A
See MEHOP, Page 3A
Matagorda County Commissioners approved the purchase of a new financial software package for the auditor’s office and payroll. During Monday’s regular
meeting, the commissioners acted on a recommendation from County Auditor Cathy Ezell to approve a State Department of Information Resources Contract with STW for the purchase of financial software. The cost of the new software is $146,656.“The contract on our current
software runs out next year,” Ezell said. “It would have cost us $287,000 to keep the same vendor. Fulfilling our (financial) responsibility to the county’s tax payers, we went out to look for a better bid.” According to a spokesperson
for STW, they currently serve approximately 70 governmental accounts in Texas. He said one of the benefits of their service is that each time they have to upgrade a portion of the software for one client, all of the other clients receive the same upgrade. That includes changes made by federal and state agencies and is included as part of the annual maintenance agreement.According to Ezell, the county
could save even more over the lifetime of the contract. “The bid includes a 20 percent
contingency,” Ezell said. “So if we don’t have anything major ‘blow up,’ the county will be able to retain those funds.”She said the county’s
existing computer hardware is compatible with the new software package and will not need to be replaced to accommodate the change over.County commissioners also
approved a financing plan with Government Capital Corporation. According to Ezell, the
county’s payments will be for $32,492 per year for five years to fit it easier into a single budget year. She said the payments would
not start until the 2015 fiscal year, which begins on Jan. 1, and the interest rate is 3.14 percent.
County changes software vendor
The Matagorda County Fair and Livestock Association’s (MCFLA) hosted the 19th annual Bull Blast at the fairgrounds Saturday, Oct. 4. This year’s Bull Blast, with the professional Lester Meier Rodeo Company, featured legendary rodeo clown Leon Coffee and plenty of bull riding action. The sanctioned event also featured Matagorda’s finest “Mutton Bustin” kids trying their best to hang on the longest.
Jonnie Montalbo / Bay City Tribune
Classified . . . . . . . 7B
Entertainment . . 7A
Lifestyle . . . . . . . . 3B
Memos . . . . . . . . 2A
Obituaries . . . . . . 2A
Opinion . . . . . . . . 4A
Sports . . . . . . . . . .1B
WHAT’SINSIDE 3DAYOUTLOOK DEATHS/2AWednesday Thursday Friday
73/89 73/87 73/89TidesHigh: 3:34 a.m.Low: 11:48 a.m.
TidesHigh: 2:42 a.m.Low: 12:35 p.m.
TidesHigh: 2:29 a.m.Low: 1:27 p.m.
• Alec Garrison• Moses Green• Richard Mesey• Matthias Ottis Jr.
U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold listens to MEHOP CEO Celeste Harrison explain the various services provided by her group. Farenthold made a number of information stops in the community last week. In addition to the MEHOP visit, he also attended Thursday’s Tenaris reception.
Jonnie [email protected]
Barry [email protected]
Barry [email protected]
By The Numbers
1 in 4 - Number of women in the U.S. who report intimate partner violence92 - Percentage of homeless women with children reporting domestic abuse35 - Average number of times an abuser hits his spouse before she makes a police report
Barry Halvorson / Bay City Tribune
Rice Festival magazine inside
Motorcycle ‘Fund Run’Lifestyles, 3B
