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Note: Events with + in front indicates newly added event!

While we strive to ensure that all of our events are current and accurate, please always check to ensure that the event is still scheduled and that the information below is correct.

• +Family Wellness Festival [Goose Creek CISD] Jan. 31st from 9am-12pm
  @ Ross S. Sterling High School

• Deaf Social Where Bakery - Feb. 7th - 11 am @ Heart & Whisk Bakery 4618 N. Main St., Baytown

• West Chambers Deaf Social – Feb. 14th @ 11 am. @ The Toasted Yolk in Mt. Belvieu 13001 I-10 East

  For a complete events calendar click here

Houston Man Arrested
Following Online Predator
Operation in Baytown

🚨Baytown Police Department News Release:

The Baytown Police Department arrested 33-year-old Toby James Woods of Houston in connection with a proactive undercover operation targeting individuals attempting to exploit minors online. Woods has been charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor, a felony offense. During the investigation, it was also determined that Woods is a convicted sex offender from a prior offense involving a minor.

On January 8, 2026, the Baytown Police Department’s Special Investigations Division (SID) conducted an undercover operation focused on identifying and apprehending individuals attempting to exploit minors online. According to investigators, Woods communicated via a social media platform with an individual he believed to be a 16-year-old female. During the course of those communications, Woods allegedly arranged to meet the teen at a local school with the intent to engage in sexual contact.

When Woods arrived at the designated location, he was taken into custody by Baytown Police investigators without incident.

“Protecting our youth is one of our highest priorities,” said Baytown Police Chief John Stringer. “Operations like this are a reminder that online platforms can be used to target minors, and we will continue to proactively identify and hold accountable those who attempt to exploit them.”

The Baytown Police Department encourages parents and guardians to maintain open conversations with their children about online safety, monitor social media activity when appropriate, and report suspicious or concerning behavior to law enforcement.

All persons arrested are afforded all guaranteed constitutional rights and presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

This case remains under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Proposed Baytown Event Center
Design Contract
Approved by City Council

Baytown City Council voted to move forward with the planning phase of a new multi-purpose event center during Thursday’s council meeting. The vote approved a contract for design services, which allows the project to begin detailed planning and public engagement.

City officials explained that the event center is the result of years of planning and community input. Early ideas date back to 2017 and 2018 with a recreation feasibility study, followed by the city’s Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Master Plan in 2021 and the Strategic Plan adopted in 2022. These plans identified the need for more recreation, entertainment, and community gathering spaces in Baytown.

The project is funded through a $75 million payment connected to a long-term economic agreement with ExxonMobil. City leaders emphasized that this funding is restricted for a community facility and is tied directly to the agreement. Without the agreement, the $75 million would not be available. In addition, ExxonMobil continues to make annual payments to the city under a separate arrangement that supports general city operations.

City staff also reviewed how the project’s location was chosen. Several sites were studied over time, but earlier options faced challenges such as high land costs, environmental concerns, and expensive infrastructure needs. The current site was selected in 2025 because the city already owns the land, which reduces overall costs. Officials also said the site supports long-term plans to strengthen and reinvest in the south side of Baytown, near existing parks, schools, and community facilities.

The event center is planned as a flexible space that can host youth sports tournaments, community programs, and entertainment events. Plans may also include incorporating the existing library into the overall facility to allow shared programming and more efficient use of space.

Council members stated that the goal is to create a facility that can operate without long-term subsidies from the city. During the design phase, the city will work with consultants to study operations, layout, and costs while gathering input from residents and local stakeholders.

The planning and design phase is expected to take about a year. If the project continues as scheduled, construction could begin in 2027, with completion targeted for late 2028.

La Porte ‘Coffee with a Cop’ Invitation

The La Porte Police Department invites you to join them for Coffee with a Cop!

A relaxed and informal opportunity to meet your local La Porte officers, ask questions, share concerns, or simply enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation. No speeches. No agendas. Just coffee, conversation, and community connection.

Wednesday Jan. 14th 8:30-10 am @ Chick-fil-A, 9101 Spencer Hwy., La Porte

Run For Your Wildlife
at the Baytown Nature Center

Dress up like your favorite wildlife. Hit the trails. Choose a timed 1K or 5K surrounded by marsh, water, and trees. When the run ends, the fun keeps going, live animals from the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center and light refreshments waiting at the finish.

 📅 Saturday, February 28th
🗺️ Baytown Nature Center - 6213 Bayway Dr., Baytown
💵 Early Bird Pricing (through Feb. 2):
1K – $5 | 5K – $10

After Feb. 2:
1K – $10 | 5K – $15

Registration closes Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 8 AM. To sign up, visit Baytown.org/events

🛍Local Garage, Yard & Estate Sales!🏷

Please help us spread the word: share this newsletter with your friends, neighbors, and anyone who loves a good deal. Encourage them to subscribe so they never miss a sale. And if you're planning a sale of your own, be sure to submit your info by Tuesday at 5 PM to be included in this week’s issue!

Friendly Note: Garage and Estate sales are as unpredictable as the Texas weather—sometimes they pop up, sometimes they blow away! 🌦️ Hosts may change times, addresses, or even cancel altogether. We just share the info; the rest is part of the treasure-hunting adventure. 🛍️

📌 Check back on Thursday!

Job Listings Now on a Separate Page! 🎉

To make scrolling easier for everyone, we’ve moved job listings to a separate page! If you're job hunting, check it out—if not, enjoy a quicker read! 😊👀

Click job listings page

Last Quiz: Which U.S. city was the first to implement a modern 911 emergency calling system?
Answer: D. Haleyville, Alabama
In 1968, Haleyville, Alabama became the first city to implement the 911 emergency calling system as part of a national effort to create a simple, universal emergency number. The first official 911 call was placed there, making the small town a permanent part of U.S. public safety history.