Palacios’ 2020 Year-In-Review: Part I BY RYAN WEST Before we get there, let’s turn back to the sity Sharks kicked off the 2020 season on the point performance. The Sharks cruised past Palacios Beacon-Publisher beginning of what seemed like any ordinary soccer pitch with a run to the Beeville tour- Danbury for their first district win of the sea- year with our Palacios Beacon 2020 Year-In- nament title game and All-tourney honors son. The 7th ‘A’ Sandsharkette cagers rattled A year ago we raised our glasses to say Review. for Elisha Garcia, Jose Velasquez, Eduardo off two win to capture the Palacios tourney goodbye to 2019 and toast the incoming 2020 January Nunez and Vaughn Mata. The red-hot Shar- title. The Shark powerlifters opened the sea- New Year. Disgraced Texas Rep. District 25 and kettes ran their win streak to 11 straight and son winning team silver at the Bay city in- It began like any other year, but no one Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen an- tipped off district play 3-0. Outgoing Palacios vitational. Palacios ISD was presented with could foresee what would be in store for over nounced he would not seek reelection and six Volunteer Fire Dept. Fire Chief Mike Hooper price tags comparing the cost upgrading ex- the ensuing 12 months. Sure, the lead up to candidates stepped forward to seek his seat. was named the Fireman of the Year at the an- isting facilities for $35 million or build new the November Presidential election was going Augie Roemer, four-legged furbaby of Eric nual PVFD Awards Banquet. The Palacios for $25-50 million. Avery Kubecka, daughter to be a spectacle that would pull at the seams and Leigh Ann Roemer, won the 2nd annual Community Medical Center was the recipient of Mark & Amy Kubecka, was crowned the of our great nation, but a global pandemic of Dog Mayor of Palacios election in the 2nd an- of a $30,000 grant to replace the 60-year old Miss Palacios at the 48th annual Miss Pala- the likes the world hadn’t seen in over 100 nual fundraiser event that raised $6,000 for disintegrating ER ambulance canopy. Hitch- cios Pageant sponsored by the Rotary Club. years turned 2020 on its head. the Lucky Strykes Dog Rescue. The South cock slammed the door of the Sharkettes’ Henley Bowers was crowned the 2020 Little And 9-10 months in, we’ve yet to turn right Texas Electric Cooperative donated $1,000 to 11-game win streak, but Palacios bounced Miss Palacios and Little Mr. went to Felix side up. the Boys & Girls Club of Palacios. The var- back to down Danbury led by Cyra Polk’s 20 (See REVIEW, Page 2) WEDNESDAY DEC. 30, 2020 PalaciosPalacios VOL. 113 • NO. 52 PALACIOS, TEXAS The Only • Newspaper In The World Published Just For The Palacios Area. EACOEACO B 1 SectiONN, 10 PAGES 00 USPS 418460 BProudly Serving The City By The Sea Since 1907 N$1. P. O. Box 817 • 310 Fifth St. Palacios, TX 77465 (361) 972-3009 [email protected] Website: palaciosbeacon.com Filing to begin Beacon Deadline 5 p.m. Friday in two weeks Except for paid advertising, for City, PISD all articles, photos or other information submitted on Monday will be published on races in May a space available basis only. Open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Filing will begin on Jan. 13 Beacon Closed Wednesday and run thru Feb. 12 for the Palacios City Council and Palacios ISD Trustee elec- Observing Our tions to be held May 1. On the City ticket, up for th grabs will be Pos. 3, Pos. 4 and Pos. 5, currently occu- 113 pied by Mary Crocker, Troy Lewis and Wayne Dodd, re- Year spectively. 1907-2020 Filing for the City races may be done in person with BEACON City Secretary Clissa Mills, at City Hall, located at 311 BRIEFS Henderson Ave. If filing by mail, applications may be ■ Donation mailed to Mills at the City of Palacios, P.O. Box 845. drive to help The PISD ballot features The Warrior’s two seats up for grabs in Refuge held at Place 1 and Place 2, respec- tively held by Rob Kessler Omar’s Bar and Peter Estraca. The Warriors Refuge (See FILING, Page 3) is dedicated to helping veterans get back on their feet by transition- ing into a safe and sup- portive environment. Estlinbaum They provide counsel- ing, vocational training and most importantly, a ready for healthy housing envi- ronment while achiev- ing long term goals. life after Requested donated items: toilet paper, pa- per towls, paper plates, the robe plastic wear & cups, BY ALAN C. SCHULMAN cleaning supplies, Palacios Beacon - Reporter hand sanitizer, ziploc bags, mustard, mayo, After nearly 20 years on olive & vegetable oils the bench, 130th Judicial flour, corn meal, alu- Court Judge Craig Estlin- minum foil & pans, baum is moving on to the plastic mattress covers, next chapter in his life. socks, towels and seal- Following his decision in able containers of all late 2019 to not seek reelec- sizes. Donations may tion to a sixth term in the be made at Omar’s Bar, 2020 election, Judge Estlin- located at 81 Henrder- baum stated, “I look forward son Ave. to completing my current term, then, Lord willing, ‘Like’ the Palacios Beacon on moving on to 2021 to the next chapter and to whatever facebook the future holds for my fam- ily and me.” Prior to serving as judge SUBSCRIBE for the 130th Judicial Dis- TO THE Pair of Palacians crowned agriculture royalty trict Court beginning Janu- BY ALAN C. SCHULMAN of Mark and Amy Kubecka and cur- the Round-Up 4-H Club. She raises ary 1, 2001, he worked for Palacios Beacon - Reporter rently a 7th grader at Palacios Jr. High market steers, and both commercial Rothfelder & Falik, LLP in PALACIOS Houston and also had a solo A pair of Palacios ladies were School. She is an honor student, a steers and heifers. Her high level of member of the gifted & talented pro- participation and volunteerism for practice in Bay City. BEACON crowned in the Miss United States Craig Estlinbaum was born Agriculture competition. gram, and plays basketball, volley- the Matagorda County Fair and Live- and raised in Matagorda $30 A YEAR Ansley Kubecka was recently ball, and is a cheerleader for the Pa- stock Association earned her the title County where he graduated IN COUNTY awarded the title of 2021 Texas Teen lacios Sandsharkettes. She serves as of 2020 Fair Princess. Ansley volun- from Bay City High School. Miss United States Agriculture and Secretary of the Student Council and teers for many local charities includ- He received bachelors and $40 A YEAR soon-to-be Matagorda County Attor- is a member of several UIL Academic ing Palacios Area Fund’s Operation masters degrees from Texas OUT-OF ney, Jennifer Chau was awarded the teams and the Palacios Jr. FFA. As an Santa Claus, the Pat Allen Memo- A&M and graduated with title of 2021 Texas Elite Ms. United extremely active 4-H member, Ansley rial Christmas Meal, and the Texas honors from South Texas COUNTY States Agriculture. is the Matagorda County 4-H Council Adopt-A-Beach. During her reign, it College of Law. Ansley is the 13-year-old daughter Secretary, the 2nd Vice-President of (See ROYALTY, Page 6) (See ESTLINBAUM, Page 4) • Deadline for Articles, Classified & Display Ads 4:30 p.m. Friday• Page 2 - Palacios Beacon - Wed., December 30, 2020 DEADLINE 4:30 P.M. FRIDAY Beacon Photo by Ryan West Call me today for a complimentary insurance review. REVIEW (979) 244-4671 (Continued From Page 1) Talon Sanchez. City Council to the Friends of Elder Citi- Hank E. Huitt announced its goals for the zens. The Sharks smothered 3120A Ave F coming year AND accepted Rice’s Raiders on the pitch Bay City the resignation of Robert for a 3-0 victory. The inaugu- [email protected] Garrett from the Planning and ral season of Palacios Shark Zoning Commission. Jenna & Sharkette swim team re- Insurance subject to availability and qualifications.Allstate County Mutual Insurance Company, Jimenez won the Junior Miss corded its first ever medals Irving, Texas. © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company. Debutante crown and Ta- and regional qualifiers in the tiana Sanchez was crowned pool. The Sharkettes clinched Jr. Miss Palacios. Students their sixth-straight trip to the of Character at Palacios Ju- basketball playoffs with wins nior High were Ethan Kolar, over Tidehaven and East Here to serve LeeAnn Martinez, Bethany Bernard. Samantha Otto and all of your Grones, Raul Cruz, Rebecca Truc Nguyen were named Castanon and Chanh Nguy- Rotary Club Students of the real estate and en. Palacians participated in Month at PHS. title needs. the first annual Christmas at February Palacios Abstract & Title Co. Sea program in Point Com- Twenty-two beautiful fort. Palacios ISD trimmed its young candidates were vying Teri Cartwright 312 Henderson Ave. boys hair length requirements for the crown of the Palacios Manager Palacios, Texas 77465 from the district’s dress code Harmonie Club’s 72nd an- Phone: 361-972-9996 Hours: Mon.- Fri./8am to 5pm policy. Palacios’ Vietnam- nual Valentine Sweetheart. Direct E-Fax: 979-241-3792 ese community celebrated Robert Garrett was selected the Lunar New Year of the by Palacios City Council to Rat with a host of traditional serve as Municipal Court GOOD FRIENDS. dragon dances welcoming Judge. The finally sales tax in the new year. Hundreds rebate tally for the City of turned out for good eats with Palacios had the final month KIND NEIGHBORS.