THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021 The Pittsburg Gazette 137 Years of Serving Camp County Volume 137, No. 11 • One Section, 10 Pages www.campcountynow.com USPS 434-260 Pittsburg athletic director, head football coach resigns By HOLLY MCGONAGILL decision before another football season [email protected] and so that the school would have time to find a replacement. Pittsburg ISD’s head football coach “During football season I work seven and athletic director, Brad Baca, has de- days a week all of us coaches work sev- cided to resign. Baca and his wife have en days a week. From August to the end Mayor Abernathy worked for the district for six years and of football season. When spring comes and community discuss state they have enjoyed every minute I am involved with all the other sports of it. While Baca resigned his wife will and I am at any play-offs or home Governor Abbott’s continue her position at the Pittsburg games we have,” said Baca. “Don’t get Elementary teaching fourth grade. me wrong I love it and I love my job but Executive Order 34 Brad Baca “We feel like our goal when we got it takes a lot of time. My oldest daugh- Governor Greg Abbott has approved executive or- here was to invest everything we had into enhancing ter will be in sixth grade next year and pretty soon she der 34 (EO-GA-34) which will come into effect 12:01 and bettering the culture of Pirates athletics family, will be in Junior High athletics. I just wanted to be a.m. March 10, 2021. Pittsburg football and the entire athletic program able to watch her and my other two who are in third- Abernathy states that the highlights of this order and we feel like we did that,” said Baca. “Now we feel grade grow-up, be at their games and coach their little include: like our goal and our mission was accomplished here. league teams more than I have been able to.” • Removes state-imposed COVID-19-related operat- Now it is time for a new challenge.” Baca stated that he wanted to say thank you to his ing limits for businesses and other establishments As of right now, Baca does not have any plans once staff, who truly gave Pittsburg their best effort every for all counties which are not in a Trauma Service his contract ends in the middle of the summer. He day and he can’t thank them enough for it. Also a sin- Area (Hospital Region) with greater than 15% of plans for his family to stay in Pittsburg for the time cere thank you to the Pittsburg Pirate Football play- COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of being unless an opportunity arises that he can’t give ers, fans, alumni, administration, Judy Pollan, Terry total hospital capacity for seven consecutive days. up. Baca would like to stay in education and possi- Waldrep, and the past and present boards of trustees • In counties that exceed that 15% for seven con- bly pursue his Master’s. He also stated that he wants secutive days, the County Judge may require more time with his family which is why he made this See BACA Page 2 businesses or other establishments to operate at less than 50% of total capacity, with no oper- ating limits for religious services, public and pri- vate schools and institutes of higher education, Pittsburg welcomes new businesses and child-care services. See MASKS Page 2 By HOLLY MCGONAGILL [email protected] Pittsburg has recently gained three new ad- Commissioners ditions to the community. Kim’s Convenience Store and IHOP and La Texana all opened at the Court renews past beginning of March, while BeBe’s CupCakery agreements, opposes had its soft opening. Kim’s Convenience Store and IHOP opened March 3 and are located in mandates the same building at 2241 HWY 271 N, just south of the UT Health Hospital. The store part of the business offers an arrangement of food, snacks and other items commonly found at a conve- Kim’s Convenience Stores and IHOP nience store. The other part of the business is IHOP which the community has been excited for seeing as the closest one is in Mount Pleasant. La Texana is located at 903 N Greer Blvd. The new restaurant offers a wide variety of tradition- al Mexican food for the community. La Texana opened March 1 and has already been a hit with- COURTESY PHOTO in the community. Many residents of Pittsburg have posted on Facebook their liking after visit- By HOLLY MCGONAGILL ing the restaurant. [email protected] BeBe’s CupCakery has been open for a while, but they recently just had their soft opening on The Camp County Commissioners Court has de- March 6. The shop is located at 611 N Greer Blvd cided to agree to inmate housing at Franklin Coun- inside of the Be *YOU*tiful Salon & Boutique. ty, a Memorandum of Understanding with Douglass BeBe’s offers a variety of sweet treats like spe- La Texana Mexican Restaurant Alumni, while opposing unfunded mandates. cialty-made cakes and icecream. County Judge A.J. Mason said that the jail in Camp With the start of these new businesses, it gives County has a maximum of 34 beds. Once the jail is Pittsburg residents more places to dine and at capacity, inmates are then sent for housing in spend locally. The cost spent will be going back Franklin County. This is an annual agreement be- into the community. As the city grows more of tween both parties. The cost of housing an inmate the residents will be benefited and it will help in Franklin County is 40 dollars a day per inmate. the town during these hard times. The court also renewed the agreement between “The Chamber is very excited about these them and the Douglass Alumni. Every two years new businesses. It means growth for our com- munity. We are honored that they have chosen See COMMISSIONERS Page 2 to invest in our community and our Chamber,” said Chamber Manager Sandy Thompson. “As $1.00 the Chamber celebrates its 75th Anniversary, we look forward to continuing to be a strong sup- port for our new businesses. Good job to all who are involved.” BeBe’s CupCakery COURTESY PHOTOS Cypress Bank Supporting East Texas 903-856-6653 Law Enforcement BECOME A MEMBER TODAY www.CypressBankTX.com www.easttexas100club.org PAGE 2 • The Pittsburg Gazette | Thursday, March 11, 2021 News Program, and Pittsburg Athletics as a whole, will con- Texans should Baca Continued from page 1 tinue to thrive and we will proudly watch from a dis- tance as our family explores new opportunities.” keep wearing “It has been such an honor to be the Head Football Pittsburg ISD Superintendent Terry Waldrop stat- Coach for the Pittsburg Pirates and live in this com- ed “Pittsburg ISD would like to express our thanks to munity for the past six years. From the first day I ar- Coach Baca for his six years of service to our district masks, experts say rived on the job back in 2015 this place became home. and community. Coach Baca has demonstrated a love “It is now time to open Texas 100%”: Texas will end- Thank you to all my players over the years, you guys for this district and community which was evident ed its mask mandate this week — making it the most are truly an inspiration to my family and me. ,” said through the investment he made in his time, energy populous state in the country not to have a one. Busi- Baca. “We love this district and this city, and that con- and efforts to see our student athletes and all athlet- nesses can also operate at full capacity starting March tinues to this day. Coaches and players will come and ics succeed. Coach Baca has tremendous character 10. In a Lubbock Mexican restaurant on Tuesday, Gov. go, but no one can take with them the accomplish- and professionalism which translated into him being Greg Abbott argued that Texas had fought the corona- ments that belong to this Program. Our goal when we a wonderful role model for our students. We thank virus pandemic to the point that “people and business- got here was to invest all our time, effort, and energy him again for the six years he gave to the district and es don’t need the state telling them how to operate” into enhancing the culture of Pirate Athletics and the we wish him and his family all the best in their future any longer. Abbott’s announcement capped a nearly Pitt Family. We believe the Pittsburg Pirate Football endeavors.” yearlong stretch of the most intraparty dissent he has seen in his time as governor. The announcement comes as the state reports: for those who want it” versus “having those people • Less than 7% of Texas’ population is fully vaccinated Masks Continued from page 1 fully vaccinated.” Remember, two of these vaccines • Over 71,000 new coronavirus cases in the past 14 require two doses a few weeks apart and many of days • Individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face those who have had COVID-19 will probably want • Over 5,600 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 coverings over the nose and mouth whenever it is to be vaccinated. on Tuesday not feasible to maintain six feet of social distanc- • According to DSHS, there are over 11.3 million • Nearly 43,000 Texas who tested positive for the virus ing from another person not in the same house- Texans in the 1A and 1B recipient categories alone.