🌱 Over 200-Pound Gar Found By Fisherman + Emergency Ordinance

Hello, everybody! It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Corpus Christi Patch newsletter — here to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 90 Low: 72.

Here are the top three stories in Corpus Christi today:

1. Texas Parks and Wildlife were alerted on Monday, May 22, to a fisherman's catch of an alligator gar weighing more than 200 pounds. Paul Hefner shared a photo with Texas Parks and Wildlife, but it isn't known whether he also caught the gar. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, the alligator gar is Texas' "largest and most misunderstood" fish, with four species in Texas: longnose, spotted, shortnose, and alligator gar. (KPRC Click2Houston)
2. The City Council covered an "emergency ordinance" pertaining to the American Bank Center during its meeting on Tuesday, May 23. The ordinance asks for mechanical repairs and exterior improvements to the Bank Center coming in at $8.4 million dollars, which the city has recommended be allocated to the renovation project. Among other issues, landscaping and irrigation outside the Bank Center are still in subpar shape after the 2021 freeze and will need to be refurbished — a $2.2 million chunk of the $8.4 million total price tag. (KIIITV.com)
3. Justin Flores, a Corpus Christi man, is dedicated to combating illegal street racing by organizing legal racing events through his organization, Drift Corpus. Flores acknowledged the rise in street racing and dangerous activities known as takeovers, where groups of cars block roads to perform stunts. Drift Corpus aims to provide a controlled environment for enthusiasts to enjoy drifting and other speed-related activities while prioritizing safety and keeping crowds at a safe distance. (KRIS-TV)

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Today in Corpus Christi:

• Keep Communities Safe & Healthcare Resource Fair At Courtyard By Marriott Corpus Christi (8:00 AM)
• Coastal Bend In-Person Job Fair At Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend, Staples Career Center (9:00 AM)
• Nueces County Park Board Meeting At Commissioners Courtroom, 901 Leopard St. (2:00 PM)
• Secrets In The Sand At Mustang Island State Park (3:00 PM)
• National Wine Day Succulent Workshop At Rose Soiree (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Texas State Aquarium celebrated World Turtle Day on Tuesday, May 23, with a video to give you the opportunity to meet the aquarium's resident rescue turtles! You can learn about each of the sea turtle's rescue stories at the link. (Texas State Aquarium via Facebook)
• David Martinez is playing at the Brewster Street Ice House-Southside tonight, May 25, starting at 8:00 p.m. (Visit Corpus Christi)
• If you're looking for a challenging and fulfilling job, the Corpus Christi Police Department is looking to hire a 911 MetroCom dispatcher! Qualified applicants can learn more and apply here. (Corpus Christi Police Department via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday off right! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.