Port Lavaca Wave Online

Seadrift Public Works Director Robert Bryant resigns

December 19, 2024

Following a series of departures earlier this year, Seadrift Public Works Director Robert Bryant is now the latest public official to leave the...

Law enforcement encourages public to stay safe during holiday season

December 18, 2024

While the holidays bring families and friends together, law enforcement agencies across Calhoun County are urging residents to stay safe and take steps to protect...

Frank Anthony Sandoval Jr.

Plea accepted in murder case

November 19, 2024

One of four people arrested in the death of Zavien Hysquierdo, 17, accepted a plea agreement in Calhoun County District Court Thursday, Nov....

Calhoun County Judge Richard Meyer

Wave File Photo

Community mourns loss of County Judge

November 19, 2024

Calhoun County Judge Richard Meyer died Monday, Nov. 18, at the age of 74. Meyer, a farmer and rancher, first took office as county judge, Jan. 1,...

Port Lavaca launches recycling pilot program

November 6, 2024

The topic of recycling was at the heart of a summit held at the Bauer Community Center on Oct. 29 as Republic Services, the city of Port Lavaca and representatives from...

Commissioners authorize third-party investigation amid pending EMS...

November 6, 2024

Court selects improvements bid, hears MMC reportDuring a special meeting held on Monday, Oct. 28, the Calhoun County Commissioners Court approved a third-party investigator...

Port Lavaca to honor veterans

November 6, 2024

The city of Port Lavaca invites the community to gather for a Veterans Day celebration at the Bauer Community Center, 2300 Hwy. 35 N., on Nov. 11, beginning at 1 p.m. This...

Contributed photo
Calhoun High School Class of 2025 invites the community to the remaining runs of the Haunting on Independence Haunted House. Remaining hours are 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday. The cost is $10. Proceeds will be used for Project Graduation.

The Haunting On Independence

October 30, 2024

Photo by CJ Vetter
Memorial Medical Center Director of Rehab Penny Goulden, Occupational Therapist Amanda Griggs, Speech Therapist Amanda Wygrys and Physical Therapist April Kubala explain the practices and techniques employed by therapists.

MMC specialists share information on pediatric and Parkinson’s therapy

October 30, 2024

During a panel hosted by Memorial Medical Center (MMC) on Oct. 23, therapy specialists explained the different programs offered by the hospital and...

Photo by CJ Vetter
A new roof hangs over the Port Lavaca Art Guild’s children’s classroom. Paid for with money from the Lewis R. and Jauniece Madden Foundation, the roof is entirely new.

Art Guild completes renovations, receives renewed interest

October 30, 2024

Renovations on the roof and interior of the Port Lavaca Art Guild’s building were finally completed this October — and the results are getting the...

A new roof hangs over the Port Lavaca Art Guild’s children’s classroom. Paid for with money from the Lewis R. and Jauniece Madden Foundation, the roof is entirely new.

Art Guild completes renovations, receives renewed interest

October 30, 2024

Renovations on the roof and interior of the Port Lavaca Art Guild’s building were finally completed this October — and the results are getting the...

By CJ Vetter

Port Lavaca Police Department’s (PLPD) littlest officer may be hard to spot around the festive season — but his work has gotten the city some serious recognition during the 2024 Texas Municipal League’s 2024 Conference and Exhibition.
During the event, the city was awarded the 2024 Municipal Excellence Award for city spirit for those cities with under 25,000 in population for the police department’s Lil’Cop in the Shops initiative. Centered around PLPD’s ‘Officer P.R. Elf,” the program emulated the popular Elf on the Shelf Christmas tradition, but with a business-friendly twist.
“We just got back from the annual TML conference where the city of Port Lavaca was awarded a TML Municipal Excellence Award for cities under 25,000. We won the city spirit award and that is due to an initiative that the police department came up with,” Port Lavaca City Manager Jody Weaver said.
“The original idea came from Evelyn Eure and McCall Dooley, dispatchers with the Department. They wanted to hide an oversize elf on a shelf dressed as a police officer in random parts of town,” Rangnow said. “Of course, the concern is that he would never make it back to the police department. So, we built off of that idea and decided to hide him in small locally owned businesses.”
Beginning last year, Officer P.R. Elf was hidden at a participating local business. Using clues about his location that were shared via the PLPD’s Facebook page, participants were tasked with finding him. Once found, Officer P.R. Elf could then be brought back to the PLPD for a prize so long as a purchase was made at the business in question.
“We put out clues every day at 10 a.m. and then everybody would go out and look for them. They would have to purchase something from the actual business and bring him back to the police department for an award, and of course, we’d take a picture with the super sleuth who found him,” Rangnow said.
According to PLPD Chief Colin Rangnow, the program served as a way to create positive interactions between law enforcement and the public while also promoting local stores and businesses.
“It was an instant hit with the public. The department’s Facebook page had a significant amount of views, shares and comments during the program,” Rangnow said. “I feel there was a definite improvement between small business owners and law enforcement. The process of signing the business up provided an opportunity to have open dialogue about the program but also any other concerns they may have had. Toward the end of the program the youngsters became the super sleuths and located P.R. Elf. When they came in to claim their prize, it provided an opportunity to have positive interaction with the Department’s officers.”
“We appreciate the efforts on your behalf to make the police department a real part of our community,” Port Lavaca Mayor Jack Whitlow said.
“TML’s Municipal Excellence Awards recognize and encourage the achievements of Texas cities in meeting the challenge of municipal governance. Innovative problem-solving, excellence in management, increasing citizen participation, and reaching higher service levels are all daily occurrences in Texas cities, and they deserve recognition,” A TML press release stated. “This awards program seeks out the best of these programs to honor.”
For further information about TML and the awards program, contact Jacqueline Redin at 512-231-7400 or jredin@tml.org.
“Officer P.R. Elf will return this year, starting Dec.1. We plan on featuring locally owned small businesses in the community. We hope to have bigger and better prizes in the goody bags. If any business would like to participate or donate prizes they can contact Karen Neal at Port Lavaca Police Department at 361-552-3788 or kneal@portlavaca.org,” Rangnow said.

Texas Municipal League recognizes Port Lavaca Police Department

October 23, 2024

Port Lavaca Police Department’s (PLPD) littlest officer may be hard to spot around the festive season — but his work has gotten the city some...

Grand Champion Zane Starns shows his steer at the 2024 Calhoun County Fair Auction. The steer sold to Rexco for $16,500.
Photo by CJ Vetter

Hard work pays off for youth at fair auction

October 23, 2024

After a long year of raising animals, Calhoun County’s 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) members finally had their work pay off on Oct. 17 at...

Photo by CJ Vetter
Calhoun High School Coach Josh Voss and Senior Noah Gohlke take a photo together following the White Cane Awareness Day presentation. Voss has supported Gohlke throughout his time at CHS.

CHS highlights White Cane Awareness Day

October 23, 2024

Recognized across the U.S. as White Cane Awareness Day, Oct. 15 was celebrated at Calhoun High School (CHS) with a special program that highlighted...

Calhoun County kicks off fair week with annual parade

October 16, 2024

On Oct. 12, Calhoun County began its annual county fair festivities with its parade down through Port Lavaca. Both Main Street and West Virginia Street saw its sidewalks...

Our Lady Of The Gulf Catholic School

Regency Healthcare

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