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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

Texas Appeals Court Cuts
Jury Award in Baytown
Plant Explosion Lawsuit

A Texas appeals court has reduced a $27 million jury verdict connected to a 2019 explosion at a petrochemical plant in Baytown, ruling that much of the award was not supported by the evidence presented at trial.

In a decision issued Thursday, the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals reviewed a case involving three workers who were injured during an explosion at a Baytown facility operated by Exxon Mobil Corp. A Harris County jury had previously awarded more than $27 million in damages to the workers.

The appeals court found that several parts of the jury’s award, especially those tied to mental anguish and physical impairment, were too high based on the trial record. The judges said the amounts were inconsistent and did not match awards typically seen in similar injury cases.

One worker’s spinal injuries were described by the court as similar to injuries often seen in car accidents, where damage awards are usually much lower. The court also ruled that evidence presented by another worker about anxiety and emotional distress did not meet the legal standard required to support a large mental anguish award.

As a result, the court eliminated some portions of the damages and ordered a new trial on certain remaining issues. One of the three workers will not take part in the retrial, while limited claims involving the other two will move forward.

The court left some smaller awards intact and did not rule on fault for the explosion itself. Both sides may continue to pursue the remaining parts of the case as allowed under the ruling.

Baytown Project Shows Strength
of Local Industrial Market

A major industrial development in Baytown has been completed and sold, signaling continued demand for large-scale logistics and distribution space in the Houston region.

The property, known as East Bay Trade Center, totals approximately 557,000 square feet and consists of two Class A cross-dock buildings. Located on a 39-acre site, the development includes modern features such as 36-foot clear heights, more than 120 dock doors, and extensive trailer and vehicle parking.

The project was developed through a partnership between the Rockefeller Group and Falcon Commercial Development and represents the firm’s first completed industrial project in the Greater Houston area. Construction began in March 2025.

Industry observers say the successful sale highlights Baytown’s growing role as an industrial hub and reflects ongoing investor interest in high-quality industrial properties in the Houston market, even amid broader economic uncertainty.

Looking Back: Aerial View of
Baytown Chevron Plant
in the Days After Harvey

We came across an aerial photo taken just after Hurricane Harvey that shows the Chevron plant in Baytown along Interstate 10, surrounded by widespread flooding. The image really puts into perspective how much water covered the area at the height of the storm. It’s a striking reminder of the scale and impact Harvey had across Baytown.

Click to watch the video

K-9 Enzo and K-9 Big
Retire From Baytown
Police Department

Two longtime police service dogs with the Baytown Police Department have officially retired and will remain with the handlers who worked alongside them throughout their careers.

K-9 Enzo and K-9 Big both concluded their service due to age, health, or length of duty after years assisting officers with patrol operations, suspect apprehension, detection work, and public safety efforts in Baytown.

Under Texas law, retired law enforcement animals may be transferred to eligible individuals. In both cases, the dogs were approved to be turned over to their assigned handlers — Officer Cody Dodson for K-9 Enzo and Officer Jeff Spencer for K-9 Big — based on their demonstrated care, responsibility, and dedication to the animals’ well-being.

Department officials said the retirements allow both dogs to transition from active duty into a well-earned next chapter, remaining with the officers who partnered with them throughout their service.

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. 🛍️

📌 No sales this week—apparently the weather scared off the bargains, too. 🙂

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: What was the first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars?
Answer: D - Mars 3
Launched by the Soviet Union, Mars 3 landed in 1971. It stopped transmitting after about 20 seconds but is still considered the first successful Mars landing.