CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx — Good morning Coastal Bend neighbors, and happy Thursday! Neighborhood News Reporter Matthew Roberts here getting you up to speed on what's going on before you start your day.
Here's your 6 Things to Know before you go.
Free fan giveaway in Kingsville
The Salvation Army is giving away free fans today in Kingsville. The drive-through event runs from 10 a.m. to noon on East Carlos Truan Boulevard. Only 150 fans are available and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents must bring a photo ID and the last four digits of their Social Security number to receive a fan.
Hornet Stadium renovations ground breaking set for today
A South Texas high school stadium with more than 75 years of history is getting a major upgrade. Flour Bluff ISD is breaking ground on improvements to Hornet Stadium Thursday evening. The ceremony kicks off at 5:30, just before the varsity football team scrimmages against Beeville. The upgrades are part of the district's 2025 bond program. School leaders say the project will ensure the stadium remains a gathering place for future generations of students and fans.
Bob Hall Pier closures
Bob Hall Pier is closing for a day to make way for a new restaurant. The entire pier will be off limits tomorrow from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contractors are pouring concrete walls for the new dining space. Officials ask visitors to keep a safe distance from the barricades and caution tape. The pier is expected to reopen by tomorrow evening.
Harbor bridge project continues
A major road closure is underway along Interstate 37. Martin Luther King Drive and the ramp to southbound Highway 286 are shut down. The closure affects the northbound frontage road from Sam Rankin to Coke Street.Detour signs are up to guide drivers around the area. Oversized vehicles should watch for low clearance at Lake Street.The roads will reopen next Tuesday.
Protesters in Austin fight border wall in the Big Bend area
Protesters gathered in Austin Wednesday to push back against the construction of a border wall in the Big Bend area. They rallied outside a Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission hearing. Bulldozers began clearing land for the project last week, with federal officials fast-tracking construction by bypassing environmental laws. Landowners say the state should have held a public hearing first. Advocates argue the 30-foot steel walls will devastate outdoor recreation and harm the Rio Grande. The wall is slated to go through three state parks. Those parks make up more than half of the land managed by Texas wildlife officials.
Rock legend Frank Beard dead at 77
Frank Beard, the drummer for Texas rock band ZZ Top, has died. He was 77. Beard died Tuesday at his ranch in Richmond. A publicist says he was in hospice care, with his family by his side. Beard grew up in Frankston and helped form ZZ Top in 1969. The group called themselves a little old band from Texas and went on to sell more than 50 million records. Beard kept the beat for massive hits like "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs." Bandmate Billy Gibbons says the band will keep touring, just like Beard wanted.
