Run Wilber Run!
Inside the Moon...
Fish Stories A4
Following Columbus A6
The
Island Moon Weekly
Seashore Outdoor Camp A11
FREE
Battle of South Texas A12
Live Music A18
Free
April 10, 2014
The only Island in Texas with more renegade pigs than deep sea charters.
Around The Island
By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com
Wilber’s Day Off
Friday was just such a day. Wilber made his move early from his place over near the Packery. Known to many Islanders familiar with his roaming predilections, they keep an eye out for Wilber just in case. He soon was spotted by a neighbor as he explored the row of Brazilian pepper trees near the County Park but when he heard his name called Wilber ducked for cover and was next seen having a romantic encounter with an electrical power box; several encounters. It wasn’t Wilber’s first rodeo; he knew where the fun was. After some intimate time with the electrical box Wilber went underground. His whereabouts unknown for almost an hour during which time his Day Off took him somehow across SPID and onto Aquarius. There remains speculation he was headed for the liquor store but Wilber is not talking.
That’s Wilber he’s alright As Wilber made his way leisurely through the neighborhood he was spotted by another Islander who had not until then made Wilber’s acquaintance. She didn’t know his name which made Wilber nervous as she approached and he took off down Jackfish in search of mythical Island truffles. By this time word of Wilber’s Day Off had reached the Island Moon office and a picture of the wandering pig was posted on theislandmoonnewspaper page on Facebook and the reply came swiftly. “Oh, that’s Wilber. He’s an Island pig. He’s alright.” But there was still the problem of how to get Wilber back home. To the rescue came the man known for years as a friend to Island animals; our own Guy Davis. As Guy made his way to the scene the Moon phone was abuzz with the latest reports of Wilber’s journey; “He just went through a backyard on Emerald. Now he’s headed back down Jackfish and a dog is barking at him. Looks like he’s headed for Whataburger, no wait, he stopped at a construction site to check a trash can. Don’t yell at him,” someone advised, “it makes him nervous.” Another said, “Don’t let him near your electric box whatever you do!” Wilber was having a big day running amok on the north end. Finally the call came from Guy, “Hey you started this come over here and help me catch this pig.”
Three rounds of Pig Wrangling By the time we arrived at the yard on Jackfish round one was over and Wilber had won. Guy got a good hold but Wilber dragged him through
Around continued on A5
Schlitterbahn Panorama
Next Publication Date: 4/17/2014 Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
Sandfest!
Island on the Move
First Quarter Sales Highlight Robust Real Estate Market
After a cool and blustery weekend the Chamber of Commerce Weather has kicked in and looks to be good for this weekend’s SandFest in Port Aransas, at least until Sunday. When Friday broke windy and warm on our Island Wilber saw his chance. Wilber, for those who don’t know him, is an Island pig of moderate girth and mild temperament with a wandering eye. Every once in a while Wilber likes to bust loose for a day of Big Pig Fun roaming around his island and exploring its many Pig Delights.
Photo by Steven Pituch Year 17, Issue 521
By Mary Lou White marylou@baxterbrooks.com We have passed the first quarter of 2014, already. During those first three months, 114 properties closed on Padre Island and 92 properties closed on Mustang Island that had been listed on our MLS system. Private transactions would have been in addition to the following figures.
Padre Island
33
Lots and Land Closed
4
Lots Between $28,000 and 29,900
16
Lots Between $ 30,000 and $39,000
4
Lots Between $40,000 and $45,000
3
Lots Between $50,000 and $63,000
6
Lots Between $126,000 and $298,000
81
Residences Closed
4
Residences below $100,000
28
Residences Between $107,000 and $195,000
33
Residences Between $200,000 and $296,900
9
Residences Between $307,500 and $390,000
Photos by Ronnie Narmour and Miles Merwin The unofficial kick-off of the summer season is this weekend as the 15th Annual Texas SandFest hits the beach in Port Aransas. The three-day event is the largest Master Sand Sculpting Competition in U.S. and runs all day
from this Friday, April 15, through Sunday, April 17. More than 100,000 people each year attend the event which runs roughly from the Beach Lodge, located at the end of Anchor Street, southward, between Mile Markers 9
Sandfest continued on A8
From Kendal's Korner to MIT
Editor's note: Many years ago Island Moon founder Mike Ellis met a young Islander named Kendal Ezell and persuaded her to write for the paper, which she did for several years until she just got too busy. We're not saying there is any connection here, but last week Kendal was accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she will go after graduating from Flour Bluff High School. Way to go Kendal! Here's her story. By Mary Craft
Real Estate continued on A3
Spoil Island Cleanup This Saturday, April 12 Vic Schreck Padre Island Yacht Club This is the weekend when Islanders give back to the landscape as the Spring Spoil Island Cleanup takes place at the Padre Island Yacht Club. There is a need for boats, Island residents, and others to volunteer for the clean up effort. Folks should arrive at the Padre Island Yacht Club, at 13402 White Cap Blvd at 8:00 a.m. either by boat or car where boats will be assigned and gloves and trash bags will be provided. Dumpsters will be located at the Padre Island Yacht Club, and boat ramps at Cobo De Bara and Cartagena. Lunch - hamburgers, chips, soft drinks, etc. - will be served at the PIYC Club at noon, courtesy of the Padre Island Beautification Trust. Everyone’s help is needed and the weather looks like it will cooperate. We’ll see you there.
Flour Bluff High School Valedictorian Kendal Ezell has always set her goals high and this month she certainly achieved one of them when she got accepted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This prestigious private college, traditionally known for its physical science and engineering research, has one of the lowest acceptance rates at 8% and only 1500 students are accepted each year.
Kendal’s final goal is to become a neurosurgeon and do research as well as surgery. Her inspiration for this career came from her great grandmother Helen Brown who had Alzheimer’s. Instead of pursuing an undergraduate degree in Biology, as most students who want to go to medical school do, she chose the unconventional engineering degree path. She explains “It will better
Kendal continued on A7
A little Island history
Meeting Sancho Panza and Surviving Like the Karankawa
Editor’s note: This is part two of a series first published in Texas Game and Fish Magazine in 1945 which chronicles the 1928 journey of a group of men looking to go by boat to the land bridge then walk south in search of a route for a new water passage to connect the two ends of the Laguna Madre. Based on their maps they had they expected to make the journey down and back in a single day and took only the water and food required for the trip. Instead, nightfall on the first night found them hunkered down in a dry camp burning cowpies for fuel, unaware that the journey ahead would be twenty
miles by foot. We thank Dr. Richard Watson for sending us his copy of the story, the only one known to exist. By J.G. Burr How welcome a sandy beach would have been. The ground was as hard as if it had been steam-rolled, and there wasn’t even a rock for a pillow. Sleep was difficult and the writer awoke about three a.m. to find the guide sitting up by the fire. There is a theory that rattlesnakes will not come near a fire, so the fire had been kept burning. From then on
History continued on A6
A 2
Island Moon
April
10,
2014
The Travelling Moon Gets Around
Zane Bailey's of Port Aransas 10th birthday party and treasure hunt on "the Mustang" with Billy and T Joe.
Doug & Debby Seefeldt with the Island Moon in Medellin, Colombia South America
Outdoor writers, television personalities, and hunting experts Larry Weishuhn and Jim Zumbo enjoying the local waters of Baffin Bay this week with Rick Rosenburg and Capt Joey Farah
Seashore 8th Grade Girls Volleyball Team Wins 1st place Jennifer Wither took her horse Chamaco to the beach on Padre for the first time and apparently Chamaco isn't a big fan of water. No humans or animals were hurt in the taking of this picture.
Happy birthday Ben!
RAY HERRERA DIRECTOR Marketing Operations Public Relations
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361-949-8200
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up to $75.00 On 1 Year Supply
Moon Mike and Bisquit in 2008
Barefoot Mardi Gras donates $8,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Shown are Islanders Duane Ebert, Tamay Tipton, and Norm Baker. Others in picture are top row, Left to right, Trixy Saldivar, Eduardo Gomez, Racheka Hook, Tony Elizondo, Mark Scott, Scott Neeley, Bottom: Chad Magill and Maria Martinez.
Island Yard of the Month
$50.00 REBATE $25.00 Discount per Dr. Kresser
Experts Claim Flea, Tick, Mosquito Infestations Will Hit Record Numbers In 2014
Give Your Pets The Protection They Deserve! Trifexis - Cheristin - NexGard Dr. Kresser Recommended Manufacture Guaranteed
*($50 REBATES) Only 10 of 25 rebates left in APRIL **Must Present Coupon At Drop Off
The Island Gardeners awarded yard of the month to Richard and Gena Blanski who reside at 15325 Key Largo. If you are interested in planting some water-wise, heat and drought tolerant plants drive by to see their yard. Various cacti and succulents are arranged in a pleasing design with rocks, some fencing and yard art. If they are out when you go by stop and visit. They’re more than happy to share their ideas and cuttings, great Island neighbors! To recommend a yard you like call Dianne Gimpel at 361-563-0951
April 10, 2014
Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder
Island Moon
Letters to the Editor Plant Swap
Dear KPAB members, The Spring Plant Swap is tentatively planned for Saturday, May 3, from 9 till noon. However, we need your help! We need volunteers to help set out plants and clean up afterwards. It's not hard work, but the more hands, the easier! Please come and bring plants if you got 'em, take plants, and enjoy the morning! We will also have a book swap, so bring books that need a new home, and take some for your library. We will collect used printer cartridges, cell phones, and eyeglasses.
Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery
Don't forget the Adopt a Beach cleanup is on Saturday, April 26. Come to Ave. G at the beach to register at 9 am. You can also call Deno Fabrie at 749-0256 to register ahead of time. Lunch is served after the clean up. New this year: Lunch will be at the Community Center on Alister St.
Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley
See you soon!
Design/Layout
Julie Findley
Jeff Craft Joey Farah Devorah Fox Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers
Sincerely, Sally Marco - Blessed Owner of Gratitude
Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Office Security/Spillage Control
Riley P. Dog Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor Dale Rankin About the Island Moon
The Island Moon is published every Thursday, Dale Rankin, Editor / Publisher. Total circulation is 10,000 copies. Distribution includes delivery to 4,000 Island homes, free distribution of 3,000 copies in over 50 Padre Island businesses and condos, as well as 600 copies distributed in Flour Bluff, 1,400 copies on Mustang Island and Port Aransas businesses. News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads, payments, etc. may be left at the Moon Office.
The Island Moon Newspaper 15201 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 250 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
9th Annual ARTFEST May 17th & 18th 10-5 Sat. 10-4 Sun. Location: Robert’s Point Park, right off the Ferry Landing adjacent to the Port Aransas City Marina. Sponsored by The Port Aransas Art Center and The Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce. Artists Booths with their Original Fine Art & Fine Crafts for sale. The 31st Annual Songwriter’s Showcase May 18th 7pm Location: Robert’s Point Park, right off the Ferry Landing adjacent to the Port Aransas City Marina. Bring a picnic basket/ cooler, beverages etc. blankets or lawn chairs and listen to some wonderful Original music under the stars and near the water. Preecher Williams & Woodie Lawson will MC. This event is also held in Robert’s Point Park (Chili Field area) $7 Gate fee Benefits Port Aransas Art Center-a 501(C)(3)Non-Profit Port Aransas Art Center 323 N. Alister 361-749-7334 artcenter@centurytel.net www.portaransasartcenter.org
Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant Pioneer RV Park Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A
Doc’s Restaurant
IGA Grocery Store Port A Business Center Carter Pharmacy
Island Italian Ace Hardware Holiday Inn
Back Porch Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place The Flat’s Lounge Giggity’s Stripes @ Cotter & Station
Lots Below $100K
3
Lots Between $110,000 and $168,000
3
Lots Between $292,500 and $370,000
1
Multi Family Unit for $570,000
76
Residences Closed
9
Residences Between $70,000 and $98,500
25
Residences Between $112,500 and $195,000
20
Residences Between $200,000 and $295,000
8
Residences Between $305,000 and $396,250
8
Residences Between $401,700 and $480,000
4
Residences Between $500K and $999,999
2
Residences Over $1,000,000
92
Properties Closed for a total of $24,352,100.00
3
Multi-Family Units For Sale From $325,000 to $334,900
13
Commercial Properties For Sale From $150,000 to $4,557,465
158
Lots and Land For Sale From $34,900 to $1,200,000
208
Residences on Padre Island For Sale
101
Attached Residences From $65,000 to $525,000
74
Detached Residences on a canal or water From $266,000 to $2,200,000
33
Detached Residences not on the water From $174,500 to $369,900
382
Total Properties For Sale on Padre Island posted on MLS System
Padre Isles Country Club
Island Tire And all Moon retail advertisers WB Liquor
Flour Bluff H.E.B. Liquid Town Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station
Gratitude Gift Shop
Police Station
Keepers Pier House
Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
A3
Did Ya Hear?
by Mary Craft
mkay512@aol.com
New Advertisers Island Presbyterian Church has worship at 10 am on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday communion at 6 pm, Easter sunrise with Island in the Son at Whitecap Beach at 7 am and Sanctuary service and 10 am. There will be child care available during services at the church. 911 Electric services commercial, residential, remodels and service calls for Flour Bluff, Padre Island and all of Corpus Christi. Owner/Islander Jerry Moss at 9032111 or email jmoss911@yahoo.com.
Business Briefs LaPalma Restaurant is opening a second location on the Island at the Subway strip mall. They hope to open in 2-3 months. Schlitterbahn Stuff I Heard - There will be a zipline from the top of the tower going across the water park. Those with social membership will be able to enter the park an hour earlier, will have a designated parking area and a restaurant/bar on the second floor. No official word on the cost of membership until after May 1st. Donna and Stephanie will be managers and work the second floor and fill in other areas as needed. The nine hole golf course and driving range are open and golf lessons continue to be given. The tennis courts will be removed from their current location and we are not certain if they will be built in another area. Island Time Sushi and Seafood Grill has the long u-shaped bar near completion and the booths will be installed next week. Owner Romeo is at a wine seminar in Austin this week. It is located in the back building of the Subway strip mall where Island Grocery/ Internet Cafe was located. Boathouse Bar & Grill has a 5K run every Thursday at 6 pm that goes down Leeward to the south jetty, back down the beach to Whitecap and back to the Boathouse. The restaurant is adding new items to their menu that include Cajun shrimp appetizer, Lamb Osso Buco,crab cake entree over linguine with roasted red pepper cream sauce and flounder cannelloni which is fried flounder with a spicy alfredo. SandFest in Port A is this weekend with live music Friday – Sunday. See front page for details. Island Gardeners Plant Sale will be Saturday, April 12th 8am – noon at Keller Williams Realty on Park Road 22. Come visit your neighbors who help beautify our Island parks and they can answer your questions about gardening in the sand.
1
Multi-Family Unit For Sale For $449,000
14
Commercial Properties For Sale From $310,000 to $3,900,000
167
Lots and Land For Sale From $29,900 to $5,650,000
191
Residences on Mustang Island For Sale
128
Attached Residences From $82,900 to $1,199,999
63
Detached Residences From $195,000 to $2,400,000
Felder Gallery at the Tower Center in Port A is hosting the annual exhibit of works by artist Wade Koniakowsky this weekend. The show dubbed "SALTY DOGS" or "TEX-MEX" includes 20 plus paintings from recent trips to both Texas and Mexico.
373
Total Properties For Sale on Mustang Island posted on MLS System
The old car wash on the Island now has only the quarter rinse thru working.
Shorty's Bar in Port A is celebrating its 68th Annual Anniversary Party this weekend starting Friday night with Shelly King, Saturday Stevie Start will play at 4pm and Matt Hole at 8 pm. There will be a barbeque in the afternoon.
The turning lanes on Park Road 22 have an anticipated completion date of April 27th. So let's hopefully all toast to that in about two weeks. Port Aransas Triathalon registration is now open for the June 21st event. The race consists of a 600 meter ocean swim, a 12 mile bike course through the town streets and a two mile beach run. There will be awards for each age group in five year increments and a t-shirt and medal will be presented to all participants.
Member Padre Island Business Association
Member Padre Island Rotary Club
Jesse’s Liquor
Subway
Duckworth Antiques
9
Texas Star (Shell)
Wash Board Laundry Mat
Chamber of Commerce
Lots and Land Closed
Snoopy’s Pier Isle Mail N More
Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant
Public Library
15
CVS
San Juan’s Taqueria
Port A Parks and Rec
Properties Closed for a total of $22,407,947.00
North Padre
Felder Gallery
Spanky’sLiquor
114
Tarpon Ice House
Whataburger
Moby Dicks
Residences Between $600K and $999,999
The Gaff
Amano
Coffee Waves
4
Wild Horse Saloon
All Stripes Stores
Coast Club
Residence Between $500K and $599,999
Port A Glass Studio
Miss K’s Catering & Bistro
Island Woman Boutique
Send letters to the editor to editor@islandmoon.com
1
Mustang Island Real Estate Ticker
Where to Find The Island Moon
Residences Between $400K and $499,999
Padre Island Real Estate Ticker
Fiesta De Mayo 7th Annual Fiesta de Mayo- Dinner/Auctions/ Entertainment-May 16th held at the Civic Center, 710 Ave. A Port Aransas starting at 6:30pm. This year’s Dinner, Catered by La Barataria. Live Quick Draw-(artists painting right there while you watch them, then we auction off their art)+ much more in Live & Silent Auctions, Live Music & Open Bar. Location: Port Aransas Civic Center RSVP Deadline is May 1st.
2
Mustang Island
Remember a few years ago when SANDFEST was FREE and FUN??!! We could all go to the beach& sit & watch them carve their amazing creations with their exceptional skills. The community all helped sponsor things and somehow it worked. Then came the stupid fences and the greed!! And apparently more greed this year raising the price to $5.00- are you kidding me? Ridiculous! And do not even get me started on some of the hotels that triple their prices for this weekend! I am a shop owner and do not change my prices to take advantage of our awesome visitors, Very disappointing.....
Andy Purvis
Sandfest
Contributing Writers
Real Estate continued from A1
W illiam a. T hau iii, P.C. “F ormer U.S. N avy L awyer ”
l Divorce and Separation l Child Custody and Support l Adoption/Guardianship l Paternity Cases l Wills and Probate
l Auto Accidents l Personal Injury l DWI l Criminal Justice l Military Law
ConvenienT Flour BluFF loCaTion 9708 S.P.I.D., Suite A-101 s C orPus C hrisTi (361) 937-5513 s T oll F ree 1-877-888-1369 Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas Former President of the Corpus Christi Family Law Association (1999-2000) Selected as a Texas “Super Lawyer” in November 2003, October 2004 and October 2005 Issues of Texas Monthly
The Padre Island Business Association monthly Mixer will be held Tuesday April 15th in the parking lot behind Black Sheep Bistro. The sponsors are The Island Moon Newspaper, Toucan Printing, Starkey Mortgage and the Island office of Gomez Properties. Beer, wine and pizza will be served and Stevie Start will provide the entertainment
City Briefs People's Restaurant next to Century Theaters is now open and has the best salad bar in town. Salad ingredients have the usual veggies plus radishes and red cabbage and toppings include cheese you slice from a block of cheese. I love that they have a decent size bowl to serve it in. The fruit section has a wider than most variety including apricots and grapes you can have along with cottage cheese. The soup of the day made from scratch is included. The cost is $9 or $4 if added to an entree. Designer Shoe Warehouse is now open at La Palmera Outdoor Mall near TJ Maxx.
Creating Dreams for Island Homeowners since 1987
• • • • •
New Homes Remodels Additions Repairs No job too big or too small
Call 774-7043 for estimate www.billgoinhomes.com
A 4
Island Moon
Backwater Adventures
Sponsored by Marker 37 Marina Befriend the Wind
On the Rocks By Jay Gardner
By Joey Farah
I was bombing around on the Island the other day doing some birding at Packery, and I noticed how much the Brazilian pepper trees have silently taken over a lot of marsh edges, fence lines, ditches, and even people’s yards. These invaders from Brazil aren’t as tasty as the coffee we import, although you literally can dry and ground the peppers and use them as spice, but don’t use too much. These trees push out the native trees and shrubs by choking out the root systems. It starts off as understory and then will out-compete even Johnson grass to get to the canopy. Johnson grass! That stuff is almost impossible to get rid of, and the Brazilian peppers take over it like nobody’s business.
will be one of the last groups as the southeast winds kick up in earnest and everything heads north to their breeding grounds. The hummers have been insane, make sure to get those feeders up right now, and while you’re at it, get some oranges out too. Again, fellow Moon monkey Miles Merwin has been posting some really great photos on his site, check it out. As fellow Moon monkey Joey was writing about last week, the trout bite is going on hard and steady out in the mother lagoon. We floated the skiff last weekend and went right out front right before the front and caught a few nice fish. Well, I’ll say that Rachel caught a few nice fish, the rest of us pretty much got skunked. She caught the first, the largest, and the most. The first bite of the day was Rachels’ new personal best trout that measured out at 28.5”, a beautiful fish that was quickly released to spawn another day. Congrats! Which is a reminder folks, please release the big trout especially at this time of year. They are about to do one of their strongest spawns of the year, and their success is the future of our trout fishery; if we kill all the large spawning females, our population goes down.
Which is evidently been occurring, as the TPWD Commission recently cited lagging recruitment as their main reason to reduce the trout limit from 10 fish to 5 fish, Rachel Schmitt with a nice trout and consequently reduce the possession limit from 20 fish They have taken over the Redhead Pond area in to 10 fish. These reductions, which came as a Flour Bluff at the Audubon site there off Laguna slight surprise, will take effect August 31st of Shores. They invaded Paradise Pond out in Port this year. We don’t want any further reductions, Aransas, although it appears someone is trying so please help the future of the populations and to stave them off. The Port A birding center let those big girls go. I cleaned three 16” inch had a major issue with them, but volunteers fish the other day for Rachel, and they were all from City Council and the Garden Club have full of eggs being hydrated. Now’s the time to been thwarting them as much as they can for practice conservation. several years now. It seems to be a losing battle, Everyone continue to hang tough, get stuff but we have to remain vigilant. The problem is that way that it spreads; these warblers and done, get solid, and I’ll see you on the rocks. songbirds that are migrating through right now eat the berries, and then sit on branches and fence lines, do their business, then voila! A new crop is started. You’ll hear more about Brazilian pepper in the coming years. Speaking of migration, it has been a pretty good one to see some awesome birds out there. As I write this, there are black and orange orchard orioles hanging around in the yard. These are the smaller orioles, and I’m pleasantly surprised not to hear reports of the larger Baltimore Orioles around as well. That means this next front we get Saturday or Sunday night should kick off the next wave of fallouts, and the orioles should be with this group. This
Bart Caron with Marker 37 and ETS with a giant trout he caught while fishing soft plastics in the Laguna Madre. Photo courtesy of Capt. Joey Farah
Under the bridge (next to Snoopy’s)
FULL SERVICE MARINA Free Boat Launch with Purchase
• • • • • • •
Open 24 Hours a day (starting April 1st) Ethanol-free Gas Newly Lighted Pier Live & Dead Bait / Offshore Bait Beer & Tobacco Tackle / Snacks / Sandwiches ATM
Newly Renovated Facility Under New Management HAND
RATE CORPO ENT NAM TOUR ARTERS U HEADQ
April 10, 2014
ICAPFR DOCK IENDLY S
BO DAILY AT LIFT R ENTA / WEE LS! K L Y 24 H OUR / MONTH SECU RITY LY
Farah’s Fishing Adventures Making the best of your time on the water can be a challenge when the flags at the dock are blowing straight. The two most productive strategies right now are drifting with the wind and targeting windy shorelines, and anchoring up on funnels that have wind swept current moving bait through them. Drifting and casting in front of the boat is best in shallow water as most of the fish that come close to the boat will dart away. Long casts are important to keep your bait or lure in the water for as long as possible as well as putting the bait out and away from any boat noise. In the Lots of big boxes still coming in every day from Baffin. Laguna Madre’ and Baffin Bay wind is the most significant factor that moves every day in the better stretches of water. When the water. This pushes bait of all kinds to be you think about how many times these fish are swept against windward shorelines and any seeing the same types of lures and then getting structures that are out in open water. I have walked over it is a bit funny. Use a different
approach and find lures that are not so popular, an Island resident and good angler had a console full of bass lures the other day. When I asked Wolf what that was he hid the secret weapon bait and changed the subject! Go with natural colors and something a bit different for success in the clear waters that have been getting so much fishing pressure. The windy days is when anglers from both the boat and on foot can sneak up on fish a bit easier. Those popular spots that have been so hard to fish become empty when the wind picks up and boats thin out. Finding rock piles in Baffin Bay and drifting over them with live shrimp has been keeping our Drifting with shrimp and popping corks has been poles bent double. Loads of drum, reds, bringing some great trout catches this week. This and trout have been coming to hand all Baffin Bay trout was fat with eggs. week. Make your drifts with your motor down so that your boat doesn’t end up been seeing good success with the King Ranch on the rocks and you can start your motor and Shoreline for drifting with soft plastics and lift it up before you idle out. The Land Cut will shrimp and popping corks. The West Shoreline heat up when the winds start pushing water has been seeing some good and bad water. The from Mansfield North. The beautiful green best fishing is in the areas that have a defined water that has been flowing into the Lagoon line of green and murky water. Make drifts has blessed the flats of the upper reaches of our through these areas, some days the majority of back yard the last few weeks. Throw plastics the game fish are in the muddy water, other days along the Intracoastal Canal at first light and it’s the clear water that brings most of the bites. then search the flats out away from the channel The darker water means that popping corks and within four hundred yards. The nightly flow of short leaders are needed. When fishing the clear shrimp and baitfish refreshes the area with new water and sight casting to the scattered sand bait and game fish every day. The sheep head pockets use fluorocarbon leader and natural are still thick at the jetties and some nice trout colored plastics. In the last few months my have shown up along the Jetties in Port A. travels down the West Shoreline of the King I had a great time fishing with some guys that Ranch has gotten comical. Groups of out-oftown fishing guides and their return clients in have been the leaders in outdoor writing and their boats have been spreading waders along its research for the last 30-plus years. Jim Zumbo banks. I have seldom seen a morning when they and Larry Weishuhn have written books, have not claimed the best areas well before sun- magazine articles, produced documentaries, up. One boat with up to seven waders at a time hunting videos, and television shows, educating marching down the beach, you can imagine that and entertaining hunters and fishermen for each sand pocket has a lure thrown into it most decades. I got to take them fishing and had a ball. The wealth of knowledge was amazing and I probably bugged them to death with all the questions. Jim followed elk herds around recording their vocabulary and was influential in making calls and understanding the art of calling elk. Larry showed the world how productive horn rattling can be, a Texas hunting tactic that calls in bucks with the sounds of antlers clashing together along with other fighting sounds. Taking them to a beautiful place right here after they have traveled the world and seen all the continents in their natural beauty, and they still thought that our backyard was amazing. We started off the morning by pulling over and calling out to some strutting turkeys along the King Toby Patch's bachelor party weekend! Ranch, they were happy to gobble back. Then we caught some drum, whiting, and trout, took a break and fried up a few. Then spent the afternoon catching some more. As a young outdoorsman I grabbed every magazine and book I could get my hands on and put those lessons to use in the field. I was fueled by the pictures and words of these two gentlemen. I in Proudly Serving Corpus Christi, turn followed somewhat their careers with my Flour Bluff & Padre Island job as a fishing guide and writer. Years later I Commercial, Residential, am teaching my children those same lessons in the woods and on the water, passing on the remodels, Service calls same love for the outdoors that I have as well as those that inspired me. The best thing I got out of my trip with them this week was to be able Jerry Moss, Owner, TECL # 25209 to realize that we are only what we leave behind Jmoss911@yahoo.com to the next generation. Take care short piece this week! I’ve got to go! 18901 Laffite, Corpus Christi, TX 78418
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April 10, 2014
Letters to Riley
Island Moon
Stoopid Toomer
A5
Stuff I Heard on the Island by Dale Rankin
You just knew it was coming. When a good idea comes rolling through the political landscape with enough momentum that everyone knows it’s too good an idea to stop, various interests along the way latch onto it like so many remora – otherwise known as suckerfish – and see how much blood they can personally get out of it as it passes through.
Boy it was a busy week to be this dog. First I got home dog pounded because I started limping like crazy and then I got a toomer on my belly and it scratched so I itched it. For a couple of days there it wasn’t a good time to be this dog. But then by Sunday I wasn’t limping as much and I went to see Dr. Christi and she took my toomer and put it in a jar. I’m going to tell the cat it’s catnip and charge her a bowl of catfood for it. Stoopid Cat!
The case in point is the move to transfer ownership of 3680 acres of land in Kleberg County, currently owned by the Texas General Land Office, to a local trust and at the same time transfer management of the land from Kleberg to Nueces County. A real plan to make optimal use of that beach is long overdue.
Around continued from A1 the stinging nettles and Guy was wearing short pants, his legs were on fire but Guy and two helpers had Wilber cornered under a hedge row next to a house and were attempting to a get a rope around his neck. Wilber had other ideas and eyed his pursuers with a wary pig eye as they took turns trying to nab him clean. Finally Guy made a grab and got Wilber by the back leg and Wilber screamed, well, like a pig. He commenced with a bucking and squealing fit that would have made Bodacious proud. Guy had a good hold but Wilber’s front feet were free and round two like round one went to Wilber. Wilber seemed ready to go home but couldn’t jump into the jeep which was to be his transport, and like Woody Allen on his deathbed, Wilber didn’t mind the end result he just didn’t want to be there when it happened. Guy opened round three with a lunge and pinned Wilber to the ground with his front feet
under him and with some help picked Wilber up and got him onto the jeep with Wilber screaming so loud it started bringing neighbors out of their houses. Once corralled in the jeep Wilber’s fun was complete and he promptly lay down and went to sleep as Wilber’s Day Off came to a happy ending. If it’s true that every pig has his day then Wilber has had his. So if you see Wilber in your neighborhood don’t yell at him, and for crying out loud don’t let him near your electric box, it will only encourage him. Just say, “Wait right there Wilber while I call Guy Davis Pig Wrangler,” and get your camera ready. Next time you decide to bust loose Wilber give us a call and we’ll come along. In the meantime, say hello if you see us Around The Island.
A little background As regular readers know the approximately six miles of beach from the Kleberg County Line to the north side of the Padre Island National Seashore are an hour’s drive from the Kleberg County seat in Kingsville and as a result law enforcement on the beach, is shall we say a bit lax. The activity on these 3680 acres of GLO land which borders PINS on the north is best summed up by this sign which, until last week, was located at the boundary between the GLO land and the north side of PINS.
running almost five months after they first hit the air. Then as the political season swung into action “saving the beach” became a nice feather in the political cap and the push was on to get the deal done before the Republican Primary, which may or may not happen before the County Commissioner Runoff Election on May 27.
Big Daily arrives Then last Sunday The Big Daily jumped on the bandwagon with an editorial under the headline “We’ve got to love these two despite their beach folly” which, using some of the most twisted logic this side of the Flat Earth Society, read in part “In case ya’ll haven’t been keeping up, suspicion of the federal government is a politically popular pastime these days, especially in Texas – though engaging in it at the county level is kind of new. So hats off to (County Commissioner Joe) McComb for that innovation.” The editorial chastises both Hunter and McComb for acting in the belief that the park planned to bollard the beach calling it nothing more than a suspected “conspiracy” theory and goes on to twist the handle off the logic pump by turning the criticism of both men into a backhanded endorsement in their upcoming races. The “conspiracy” was born when the previous Park Superintendent stated his intention, several times and on the record, to move the bollards north on the beach to block traffic when the park took control of the land. Had someone from the Big Daily called and asked that question the editorial writer would know where the “conspiracy” came from.
What’s going on? Here’s
what’s
going
on.
The
Nature
And these pictures of the shooting gallery which has also taken hold on the land. Ad hoc nude beaches and shooting galleries don’t spring up where there is a law enforcement presence.
Wilber had a romantic encounter with an electrical box
Tides of the Week
Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) April 3-9 2014
Day
High /Low
Tide Time
Height in Feet
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
Th
10
Low
6:39 AM
0.6
7:09 AM Set 4:10 AM
10
High
1:30 PM
1.4
7:51 PM Rise 3:57 PM
10
Low
8:01 PM
0.9
F
11
High
12:42 AM
1.2
7:08 AM Set 4:46 AM
11
Low
7:37 AM
0.7
7:52 PM Rise 4:50 PM
11
High
1:44 PM
1.3
11
Low
8:15 PM
0.8
Sa
12
High
1:52 AM
1.3
7:07 AM Set 5:21 AM
12
Low
8:32 AM
0.8
7:52 PM Rise 5:43 PM
12
High
1:58 PM
1.3
12
Low
8:31 PM
0.7
Su
13
High
2:54 AM
1.5
7:06 AM Set 5:57 AM
13
Low
9:26 AM
0.9
7:53 PM Rise 6:38 PM
13
High
2:11 PM
1.3
13
Low
8:49 PM
0.5
M
14
High
3:50 AM
14
Low
10:22 AM
14
High
2:23 PM
14
Low
9:12 PM
Tu
15
High
4:44 AM
15
Low
11:24 AM
15
High
2:30 PM
1.2
15
Low
9:40 PM
0.2
W
16
High
5:39 AM
1.8
7:03 AM Set 7:57 AM
16
Low
10:14 PM
0.0
7:54 PM Rise 9:32 PM
1.6
7:05 AM Set 6:34 AM
1.0
7:53 PM Rise 7:34 PM
Moon Visible
72
80
Early last year we printed a story saying that the Texas Nature Conservancy was negotiating to buy the land and donate it to the National Park Service to make it part of the park. Problems arose when park officials said their plan was to place bollards on the beach at the northern boundary of the land and force park-goers to go six miles around to get to the beach. Locals take a dim view of any limits on beach access and took the stated PINS plan very seriously due to the fact that the current northern park boundary has bollards designed to block traffic there. (see photo) This plan, when combined with the oft stated opinion that the treatment of the beach-going public by park rangers over the years has sent the message that they would prefer a nature area devoid of people to a public beach, raised
87
93
97
1.2 0.3
1.7
7:04 AM Set 7:14 AM
1.1
7:54 PM Rise 8:32 PM
99
99
the ire of locals who took the matter to State Representative Todd Hunter who spoke to Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and the possible sale to the park service stopped and negotiations began for a local trust to buy the land and place it under the management of Nueces County who would management it as a public recreation area.
The fathers arrive But a great idea has many fathers, and at that point they all began claiming paternity; and in fact are still latching their suckers onto the shark. First, a local television station began running promos saying they singlehandedly “saved the beach” because no one knew what was going on until they “first reported it.” Never mind their first story was eight months after the first story here, and never mind that by the time they first heard of the story Rep. Hunter had already put the brakes on the deal and “saved the beach” before they piled on. The promos are still
Conservancy, which does great work all over the state, is – as the name implies – in favor of turning the 3680 acres into a nature preserve, as opposed to a public recreation area. A noble discussion to have but given the crowds on our beaches each summer it is hard to see how restricting access to six miles of beach could be a good idea. It seems to me the “folly” is that the Big Daily has weighed in on a subject without mustering salient facts and should disclose what, if any, its connection is to the Nature Conservancy for whom, in their convoluted way, they appear to be carrying water. It is no secret that the Nature Conservancy is still in favor of putting the land in the hands of the park but that plan has no political traction locally, and in fact a move to do that now would likely be a decisive blow to any candidate who decided to go down that road. Terms of the deal to transfer management of the land in question have been in place for weeks between the General Land Office, the trust with the money, and Nueces County, the final signatory is Kleberg County . As of this writing on Wednesday, the Kleberg County Commissioners Court has a meeting scheduled for Thursday which may or may not result in a vote to approve the deal; so by the time you read this the paperwork may already be headed to the other three entities for their pro-forma approval of a deal they are already familiar with. There is some push back from the Kleberg County Commissioner in whose district the land is located based on two claims: one, he believes the Kleberg County Sheriff does a good job of patrolling the beach; and two, there are currently two county employees dedicated to maintaining the beach who may or may not stay employed if management passes to Nueces County. To their credit, a drive down the beach this week found the trash cans that were overflowing last week with what looked like a month’s worth of garbage piled around them were now empty and the Nude Beach sign you see above removed since that photograph was taken a week ago. Even if a deal gets done there are still some questions outstanding. In the rush to get the deal done before the primary runnoff no budget has been put forward for managing the land once Nueces County takes control. One suggestion is to extend the jurisdiction of the $12 Beach Parking Permit to the land. The plan now going through the approval process is an idea whose time has come. The only question is whether enough newfound fathers and suckerfish can attach themselves to the shark to stop it. By this time next week we will have the answer.
A 6
Island Moon
History continued from A1 there were two of us keep vigil with the stars. With the earliest signs of approaching dawn the camp was aroused and the motor was brought to the fire to be dried. This being done, and the motor found to be in shape, we dragged the boat to navigable water and were again on our way. As already pointed out, Baffin Bay and the projection of the Laguna southward is ornamented with rock; shell rock, some of it concealed beneath the water, constituting a serious hazard to boats. But our guide knew his rocks; his Scyllas and Charybdis and in that respect we escaped danger. Then when about halfway across Baffin the south wind came up and began to drive huge waves against us. How a small boat will act in such a case needs no description except to say that while the boat was on the crest of a wave the propeller was spinning in mid-air, and when we sank into the trough with a colossal spank, the boat shipped water to such an extent that constant bailing was imperative. This rock of the boat makes some persons sick but other thoughts were now uppermost. We were making little progress and if the wind should increase thee was a probability that the boat would be completely swamped. The bay was fifteen feet deep at that point, said the guide, and swimming any distance in such waves would have been hopeless.
Guides return to Flour Bluff Here the writer comes forth to refute and rumor that we all went to the bottom and were never heard from again. To the contrary, in a matter of four hours we sighted land and soon eased into the Laguna proper where the waves were less violent. But the number of hidden rocks increased, in water unfamiliar to the guile,
We had had no breakfast or water but had expected to get across the flats in a short while, so the little food we had was left with the men for their return trip. We half expected to see a ranchhouse where we might get a cup of coffee as a morning bracer but there was nothing in sight. With the waters of the Laguna stretching away as far as the eye could reach, and no sign of the sand flats, it began to appear that the distance to be walked would be greater than at first expected. The guide had remarked on the uncertainty of what was ahead and it looked like we might be in for trouble. My traveling companion, Tucker, a captain of the First World War and a seasoned hunter
Kenedy Ranch House accustomed to the hardships of long hikes, generously offered the writer an opportunity to turn back and go with the boatman, and let him proceed alone. Though this offer the writer did not accede, preferring to share whatever fortune or misfortune the adventure might bring, and so we were off for the flats.
In the harbor at anchor I got out my charts and looked for the next leg of my journey. As I read beyond here to the east was where Christopher Columbus had traveled on his first voyage. It seemed that there was a great debate as to where Columbus had actually landed. It seems there was a disagreement as to exactly where Gaunihauni was actually located. There were some that said that the now day San Salvador in the Bahamas was the site. Some said it was Samana Cay north of the Akland and Crooked Islands group. Others said it was Plana Cays to the east, and others said it was Grand Turk Island. With this I decided to see for myself. Where I would find that matched the description by Columbus himself.
Too dry to spit cotton The hot, south wind soon dried our clothing which the waves had wet. The evaporation left our clothes stiff with the precipitated salt as we walked and walked and walked. The pelting, hot wind in our aces made travel difficult. We were bucking a twenty miles wind which is defined as a gale. It parched our lips, and soon the mouth became to dry to even “spit cotton.” Cactus apples along the trail were withered from the heat, but after scraping off the thorns one could get enough juice to moisten the tongue, but not enough to swallow. We narrowly escaped stepping on two rattlesnakes that were sunning themselves in the cow trail. By noon there was still before us the unending vista of water and mirages, and the writer was getting tired enough to rest. But my traveling companion showed no sign of fatigue and he disdained the idea of chewing the cactus fruit. He carefully avoided any reference to thirst but to me it was a matter of compelling interest. Later this thirst drove Mr. Tucker to the extremity of eating the cactus fruit and sometimes without getting all the thorns off.
Though I was calm and of clear mind it was increasingly difficult to concentrate. Relaxation was followed by a felling of uncontrolled mental drifting. The attempted rest gave no improvement and amounted to nothing more than a surrender of the will power. It seemed best to keep moving which I did within the limits of my endurance and conserving my energy with shortened steps. As the sun began to sink in the west I gathered a supply of my shriveling cactus apples with which to moisten my lips and tongue, suspecting that I would not have the strength to arise once I lay down for the night until the next morning. Gathering this supply of fruit was my only hope of keeping myself alive until a rescue party found me. It was while thus engaged that my eyes caught sight of a horseman riding toward me. Was there ever such a welcome sight? I dropped the fruit and hurried toward the –shall we say knight errant? Perhaps his appearance rather recalled that of Sancho Panza but to me it suggested the knight errant who were always to the rescue of someone in trouble. “Are you looking for me,” I said, “and in any event I am going with you.” Without a word this Mexican ranch hand passed me a small jug of water.
Next Issue: On to the Kenedy Ranch and meeting Captain John Kenedy.
Pirate Story of the Week
Ruling Articles for a Pirate Ship
Even pirates knew there must be honor among thieves and to maintain order they had Ships Articles on which fealty could be sworn by placing the pledge’s hand on a Bible or an ax, at the choice of the swearer. Here is a copy of two ship’s articles from Captain Peter Blood from June 20, 1687, and Captain Sharkey, ‘68. How it may apply to twenty-first century life is in the eye of the beholder.
and now band ourselves into a brotherhood of buccaneers, to practice the trade of piracy on the high seas. We, the hunted, will now hunt. Therefore, to that end, we enter into the following articles of agreement:
Food should be the same for all, and no man should interfere with another man’s drink! The Captain should have a cabin, but all hands should be welcome to enter it when they chose. All should share and share like, save only the captain, quartermaster, boatswain, carpenter, and mast-gunner, who had from a quarter to a whole share extra. He who saw a prize first should have the best weapon taken out of her he who boarded her first should have the richest suit of clothes aboard of her. Every man night treat his own prisoner, be it man or woman, after his own fashion. If a man flinched from his gun, the quartermaster should pistol him.
Second article: All monies and valuables which may come into our possession shall be lumped together in a common fund. And from this money to fit, rig, and provision the ship. After that, the recompense each shall receive who is wounded is as follows: for the loss of a right arm, six hundred pieces of eight; left arm, five hundred; for the loss of a right leg, five hundred; left leg, four hundred.
(The Dealings of Captain Sharkey and Other Tales of Pirates “How Copley Banks Slew Captain Sharkey” 68)
If a man shall be drunk on duty, he shall receive the same fate. And if a man shall molest a woman captive against her will, he too shall receive the same punishment.
We, the undersigned, are men without a country, outlaws in our own land and homeless outcasts in any other. Desperate men, we go to seek a desperate fortune. Therefore, we do here
April 10, 2014
Following the Trail of Columbus Editor’s note: Last week our Captain was following the trail of the pirate Captain Kidd in the Bahamas. This week he is on the trail of Christopher Columbus.
After some persuasion I induced Mr. Tucker to continue the trip alone and leave me come along by easy stages. So he trotted away while I hugged the shade of a barbwire fence and a nearby gate. How disappointed and restricted the shade at mid-day! There was nothing but low shrubbery at hand save the occasional Spanish dagger plant which by one or two o’clock began to extend its shadow. To one of these I repaired and lay down to relax. It was little better than an ostrich with his head in the sand, for this plant shaded my head while the sun continued to rain heat on the rest of my body. It reminded one of those sweat baths when a cold cloth is wrapped about the head, except that is was not like a cold cloth and perspiration had long ago ceased.
increasing the possibility that the propeller might at any moment be shaved off by a rock or that a crash might split the bottom of our boat. Our progress was so slow that it was decided to land on the mainland and continue the journey on foot. The guides and the boat were to return to Flour Bluff.
By Capt. Sail Offcourse
A horseman passes by
Pare Island before the land cut
First, we pledge ourselves to be bound together as brothers, in a life-and-death friendship, sharing alike in fortune and in trouble.
If a man conceal any treasure captured, or fail to place in the general fund, he shall be marooned, sent ashore on a deserted isle and there left with a bottle of water, a loaf of bread, and a pistol with one load.
These articles entered in this twentieth day of June, in the year 1687. Captain Blood
Great Exuma from the air Columbus’ ships log I went to the Peace and Plenty Hotel there in Georgetown, Great Exuma. It is a wonderful place that was built originally as the market for the town, and converted to a hotel. It overlooks the beautiful blue waters of the Harbor, but has a strong surge out in the bay under it, so I had chosen to walk up the hill rather than try on my boat. I went to the manager and asked to use the wireless network. Come to find out they had just gotten it installed and I was the first to try it out. Cost was $10.00 for my time I was on my laptop. I searched the Archives General of the Indies in Seville, Spain and found what I was looking for, Columbus’s Ship’s log. I went there and got it in Spanish that way I would not have someone else’s interpretation of what he saw. Columbus gave a complete description of the lookout calling “Land HO” to turning southwest to go to the land they had spotted. The island or islands were surrounded by reef except on the south west shore. There off the point they anchored. They went ashore on a sandy beach and were greeted by the local natives who called this Gaunihauni. He made presents of green glass beads to the local Indians who were mostly naked. The
Columbus' ships log sailors all wanted to go ashore because the natives did not mind sharing their woman.
On to Cuba
was against them. They rounded the north East Cape and traveled 26.7 miles to a beautiful anchorage that Columbus declared could hold the whole of the Spanish Navy, here they spent the night. This harbor is at Bird Rock lighthouse at Landrail Point, Crooked Island today, and was his favorite of the whole first trip. The next day they traveled south along the coast to where two islands come together in a small inlet but it was too shallow to go between them. They got to the end of this other island and tried to go inside the bay but it was too shallow. They turned west and went 24 miles to an island Columbus named Fernandina.
Along the Cuban Coast Five miles to the north west of the southern cape was a small inlet with a harbor inside. After seeing the reefs he was now cautious of these waters. So he anchored outside and used longboats to go ashore. When inside he was glad he had choose to anchor outside as there was not enough water inside for his small fleet, as they would have run aground inside. This small harbor is on Long Island and named Little Harbor. They continued along this island to its north cape and saw a small Island to the east northeast. They went to this small island and named it Santa Maria Concepceion. Over night a storm started brewing so they raised anchor and headed for the cove between the islands they had seen before Fernandina. They saw a small island as they went passed but
1598 map of Cuba were in a hurry to get to a safe anchorage and the one between the islands was the only one they knew of without reef and had deep sand bottom for good holding. This was the first taste the Spanish got of a Tropical Storm. The Indian guide abandoned ship and they could not go after him. The Natives Canoes were faster than they could row the long boats. There they rode out the storm in the shelter of the Crooked Islands. From there they followed the Bank south and named the Passage at the south end of the island group “Mira Por Vos” translated means “Every Man for Himself”. This only goes to show how terrified they were of all the rocks and wind and waves in that passage .Scared to death they headed west and found the Ragged Islands chain. During the night William Pinzon took off with the Pinta headed back to Spain as he had had enough of the bad weather and his nerves were at an end and his crew wanted to go home. Here they were right off the shores of Cuba and Christopher Columbus has to turn and try and chase down a faster smaller ship with a head start. With this information I headed back to the boat to look at the charts. There I saw the only choice was Plana Cays so now I had a destination in mind to look at. I started planning my trip and making preparations for the open ocean. I planned to see Conception Island and then head down Long Island to Little Harbor, from there to Landrail Point and on to Plana Cays.
Columbus went on top of the mound and declared that this was Spanish soil claimed in the name of the King of Spain. Looking to the west he could see what looked like a string of islands over the horizon. Guanihauni was actually two islands with several islets and lots of rocks surrounded by reefs on all sides. The Natives all had gold trinkets and Columbus tried to find out where it came from. The Natives all said it came from the west at a place called Cuba. Columbus asked for a guide to take him to this “Cuba” and was given a fisherman to guide them. They promptly loaded up and raised sail headed southwest. They traveled 18 miles and found that the chain of islands they had seen was one island and they had just seen the tops of the hills. They sailed 13.5 miles down this coast and turned around to head north Mira Por Vos Lighthouse, Western End of Acklins Island as the current and wind
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April 10, 2014
Island Moon
Police Blotter “I was waiting for my wools to dry” Monday, April 07 3:00 a.m. 9320 South Padre Island Drive Possession of a Controlled Substance Corpus Christi Police arrested 32-yearold woman for possession of a controlled substance at an apartment public area located at 9320 South Padre Island Drive Monday morning. A Corpus Christi Police Officer conducted patrols through the apartment complex in response to recent burglaries to coin operated machines in which a woman had been viewed on video as the suspect in the crimes. The Officer saw the woman at the laundry room at 3:00 a.m. and stopped her to investigate. The Officer discovered the woman does not reside at the apartment complex and did not know any person who did live nearby. The Officer discovered contraband with the woman that the Officer believed to be methamphetamines and he arrested her for possession of a controlled substance. The Officer then delivered her to the city detention center.
Bank Employees Deny Robber of His Loot Friday, April 4, 2:48 p.m. 4462 Ayers Street Robbery Corpus Christi Police responded to a bank robbery complaint at 4462 Ayers Street at 2:48pm Friday. The bank employees explained to responding Officers that a man who wore a mask to cover his face attempted to enter the bank, but the employees denied the man entry into the building. Witnesses told Officers the man entered a first set of doors to the bank into a foyer, and then reached a second set of doors to go from the foyer to the bank lobby, but the second set of doors were locked by the time he pulled on the handle. Witnesses described the man to Officers as a man who wore a hat, sunglasses, a medical bandage around his face as a
mask, and a beige coat. Officers learned no person was injured and the man did not take anything. Witnesses told Officers the man left the bank and was last seen running east on Gollihar before law enforcement arrived.
Guns Drawn along JFK Causeway On Monday, March 31, detectives obtained a warrant for the arrest of 38-year-old Jonathan Michaud for Continuous Sexual Assault of a Child for an offense which occurred at 5902 Ayers Street. The warrant alleged Continuous Sexual Assault of a Child; a first degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Detectives said Michaud was last seen in Rockport and was believed to be still in the area. On Friday, April 4, about 6:30 p.m. CCPD officers in cooperation with the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force located the wanted suspect at the 11800 Block of S.P.I.D. along the JFK Causeway. Officers confronted Michaud and ordered him to surrender. Michaud shot himself and was then taken into custody. Machaud was transported to a local hospital where he died from a self inflicted gunshot wound.
Police Calls 13800 block Halyard 5:49 p.m. April 2 Credit card abuse
15300 block Key Largo 8:30 p.m. April 6 Criminal trespass 13800 block Suntan 12:19 a.m. April 5 Dead on Arrival
Kendal continued from A1 prepare me for research. I plan on majoring in biological engineering and minor in both brain and cognitive sciences and computer science.” Kendal found out about the acceptance when she logged in with her phone while she was at a restaurant in San Antonio with her mom, Michelle Matthews of Michelle’s Salon on the Island. When she told her mom, Michelle stood up in the restaurant with raised phone and told everyone “My daughter got accepted to MIT!”. A few days later she received the acceptance letter in the school’s traditional shimmering silver cardboard tube. Future students are expected to make something out of the tube that is creative and then submit to the “hack-thetube” web site. One student launched her tube with a camera and GPS trackers with the help of a weather balloon. It ascended 91,000 feet and gave stunning views of the earth during its two hour flight. Others were more playful with their creations and made things like lamps and vases.
Kendal was captain of the all girl “Pink Lady Hornets” robotics team so my guess is her tube may become something robotic. Her team did great for rookies coming in 26th place out of 72 teams in the recent national competition. Kendal was accepted by SMU, Harvard, Baylor, Rice and others. The Texas A&M Honors Program acceptance with a full ride was the toughest decision for her because “I’m a gung-ho Aggie but you don’t turn down MIT.”
A7
Work Moving Into High Gear On PR 22 / Sh 361 Project No activity during SandFest weekend (April 12, 13) and Easter weekend (April 18-20) The pace of work is picking up on the resurfacing of Park Road 22 and the operational improvements at SH 361. However, work will be suspended for the next two weekends that typically experience high traffic volume. Work will stop for SandFest weekend, April 12, 13 and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for Easter weekend, April 18-20. Weather permitting, the anticipated work schedule for the week of April 14-17, is:
Waldron Road through the JFK Causeway Resurfacing continues with single lane closures eastbound and westbound on Park Road 22 with intermittent ramp closures. To accommodate the majority of commuter traffic, eastbound PR 22 closures will begin at 6:30 a.m. (daylight) and end at 4 p.m. Westbound PR 22 closures will begin no earlier than 9 a.m. and continue until sundown.
JFK Causeway to SH 361 Single lane closures eastbound and westbound on Park Road 22 with intermittent ramp and crossover closures for resurfacing work. Note: If the crossovers are closed, traffic will have to use the PR 22 / SH 361 intersection for westbound PR 22 access and the westbound to eastbound turnaround at the JFK bridge for eastbound PR 22 access.
PR 22 / SH 361 intersection Work on left- and right-turn lane improvements on eastbound PR 22 and concrete curb removal and replacement on SH 361 at the convenience store will require single lane closures eastbound and westbound on PR 22 and single lane closures on SH 361 with the right turn lanes closed at Commodores Drive and SH 361. Motorists should expect delays, allow for additional travel time, watch for flaggers, police officers and work crews, be patient and proceed with caution through work zones.
Easter Bunny Set to Visit the Island Annual Easter Egg Hunt Promises Hours of Family Fun
15100 block Dasmarinas 9:48 p.m. April 1 Assault with injury 14200 block Pescadores 3 p.m. April 6 Terroristic threat
By Brent Rourk Islanders of all ages are once again welcome to attend the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Don and Sandy Billish Park (Gypsy Park) on April 19th at 11:00. In addition to the egg “hunt” at noon, there will be games, rides, hot dogs, ice cold water, free face painting, and a bake sale. The North Padre Island Kiwanis and Keller Williams are co-sponsoring the event with the help of many other generous contributors. The Easter Bunny has promised the sponsors another appearance during this event. As in past years there will be some valuable prizes given to children from all age groups who find special eggs. After the Easter egg
hunt, a temporary sense of calm should prevail over the area as children and their parents will sit down and open their stash of eggs, finding coins, candy, chocolate and this year special tickets for prizes. The pavilion will house a bake sale and also the famous troupe of face painters from the Seashore Middle Academy Builders Club. Bring your children so that they can walk the park as a tiger, cat or bunny. Current high school students fondly remember when they walked the park with a full Easter basket in one hand, candy in the other, and bunny whiskers moving as they smiled.
The next school decision to be made will be medical school and she already has that narrowed down to Stanford or Harvard. After that she will be back home because she pronounced “I’m a Texas girl!” Kendal is looking forward to her visit to the campus with Michelle and her grandmother Carol Chandler.
This event is one of the fun family events that our island hosts. Bring your cameras and plan to treat your children to some good old fashion fun. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a cap.
When I told her that this is a pretty exciting time in her life she added “and stressful!”
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A 8
STATE
Island Moon
By Todd Hunter, District 32
As many of you are aware, the Texas Legislature is not currently in session. The Texas Legislature constitutionally meets for 140 days every odd numbered year, which makes the next official session for the Texas Legislature to meet, January 2015. It is important to note however, that this does not mean that the Texas Legislature stops working. In fact, the period in between sessions, often referred to as the interim, is when the Texas Legislature identifies and studies the important issues facing the State of Texas in preparation for the next legislative session. This is one of the reasons I filed and passed House Concurrent Resolution(HCR) 59. HCR 59 requested that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor create a joint interim committee to study water desalination in Texas. The Joint interim committee is a joint committee composed of Texas House and Texas Senate members. Water desalination has been a topic of discussion in our area for many years. This is why I thought it was important that the State of Texas start taking a serious look at making water desalination a reality in our state. There are multiple types of desalination such as, brackish ground water, brackish surface water, and seawater desalination. Below are some interesting facts about water desalination in Texas according to the Texas Water Development Board: • Texas currently has an estimated total municipal desalination capacity of about 123 million gallons per day (about 137,760 acrefeet per year) which includes 73 million gallons per day (about 81,760 acre-feet per year) of brackish groundwater desalination and 50 million gallons per day (about 56,000 acre-feet
April 10, 2014
‘Island Library’ Growing Fast
Committee Appointed to Study Water Desalination On Friday March 28, 2014 the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives appointed the House members for the Joint Interim Committee to Study Water Desalination. I am pleased to announce that the Speaker has given me the honor of serving as Co-Chair of this important committee.
per year) of brackish surface water desalination. • In addition to municipal desalination, industrial desalination capacity in the state is estimated to be about 60 to 100 million gallons per day (about 67,000 to 112,000 acre-feet per year) mainly in the power and semi-conductor industries. • The largest inland municipal desalination plant in Texas, the Kay Bailey Hutchison desalination plant in El Paso, has a design capacity of approximately 27.5 million gallons per day (30,800 acre-feet per year) and went into production in August 2007. • Texas does not yet have a seawater desalination plant. However, on May 14, 2011, voters in Laguna Madre Water District approved a bond proposition to build a 1-million-gallonper-day seawater desalination plant on South Padre Island. • The average cost to produce 1 acre-foot of desalinated water from brackish groundwater ranges from approximately $357 to $782. • The average cost to produce 1 acre-foot of desalinated water from seawater is projected to range from approximately $800 to about $1,400. If you are interested in water desalination in Texas, I highly encourage you to follow the Joint Interim Committee to Study Water Desalination as it gets underway. In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about water desalination in Texas, I invite you to check the Texas Water Development Board's website at http://www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/ desal/. If you have questions regarding any of the information or giving opportunities mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-9494603).
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
Sandfest continued from A1 through 14. The event is free and open to the public and a qualifying contest for the World Championship of Sand Sculpture and features the best sand sculptors in the world. The winner of the event automatically qualifies for the World Championships.
POA Office Houses Book Swap By Brent Rourk Who would have thought that the POA office on North Padre Island would also become the home of a large library, housing thousands of books and a part time volunteer librarian? Though it does not rival the Smithsonian or even a large city library in terms of size or number of volumes, it nevertheless has become a popular place for islanders who love to read and exchange books.
How it Began
Continued Growth
Walking into the POA office in November, 2009, long time islander John White carried about a dozen books and suggested creating a space in there for a book swap. So a dozen or so lonely books stood proudly in a large bookcase in POA Executive Coordinator Maybeth Christensen’s office. Meager beginnings soon turned into abundance as generous islanders, sympathetic to the plight of distressed readers who needed to find a book, contributed enough books to fill one entire bookcase. Not long after that 3 bulging bookcases swamped Maybeth’s office.
With both libraries expanding and attracting more visitors, the POA office has become a daily island destination site where according to Maybeth, “We get from 8 to 10 people a day who visit the libraries. They seem to enjoy coming here and talking about books and socializing”.
The inclusion of an island book swap became popular, but also at times required more attention and work than the POA staff could devote to a book swap turned library. More islanders contributed books, checked out books, and enjoyed socializing with other voracious island readers.
The POA office is pleased with the growth of the book swap and of the service it provides to readers. They clearly understand that the fledgling library will likely continue to flourish. Maybeth remarked, “I hope that it will continue to grow bigger when we add a community center”. There is a much larger room in the POA offices that will be the perfect room for the library’s next growth stage.
Enter Margie the Librarian Enter islander Margie Quigley in 2010 who, much to the delight of the POA staff, volunteered to take control the expanding book center. Margie systematically organized the books and to this day continues to keep the room organized and neat, working two mornings a week. Maybeth is tremendously appreciative of Margie’s volunteer efforts stating, “Margie is a remarkable volunteer and it would not be what it is today without her.” The POA moved the library into its own room, taking over the space occupied by a part time accountant and over the course of two more years it has now filled that room and is demanding more space. Margie was there to help organize the books as the library continued to expand. Volunteering 2 half days a week might seem like work to some, but to Margie the librarian, or ‘Book Lady” as she is affectionately known by some, it is exciting and rewarding. Margie admitted, “I like to read and have 2 or 3 books going at any time. When I saw the wonderful books and all of the people who came in, I thought I needed to keep it organized”.
Aside from the various levels of competition, from the pros to the kids, there are dozens of vendors selling a wide variety of products, food and beverages, and a live music tent (for more details on the music see Ronnie Narmour's column in this issue). Our advice is to get there early in the day as the traffic gets heavier as the day goes on, and beer sales are limited to a confined area adjacent to the music tent and if purchased there cannot be taken outside the fenced area, so if want to walk and sip bring an ice chest.
Margie stated, “I placed paperbacks in one case and hardbacks in another case and I started organizing them. I could not stand having books stuffed in the cases with no order”. “I met readers as they came in and out to borrow books,” acknowledged Margie. “I talked with them on a regular basis. People love it because it is on the island. They can trade them, bring them back whenever they are done, and there is no checkout system. Readers also like it because it is organized, they can take lots of books, and they can bring their own books”.
This is the Big One folks and the weather looks to be good at least until Sunday. We'll see you there.
Children’s Library Also Available Also housed in the POA office complex is a children’s library initiated by Girl Scout Marzena Friday, who raised money and hundreds of children’s books as part of her Gold Award [Marzena’s story was previously covered by The Island Moon Newspaper]. Often families and their children can be seen exploring the children’s library, quietly reading or borrowing books.
Maybeth noted, “Visitors can swap books or borrow them. They do not have to trade, but they can donate”. Presently, the library accepts fiction and some non-fiction. The library is open to all islanders from 8-5 on Monday through Thursday and 8-noon on Friday. Sorry, closed for the weekends; that is the time to sit back and enjoy the books.
Several people I spoke with did not know about the book swap, but several people have known and do know about it, and have appreciated the convenience of a growing library here on the island. The POA has previously advertised the book swap’s existence and many fine islanders have visited it regularly, but not all islanders are aware of it or how large it truly is. What began as a book swap, and technically it still is a book swap, has finally reached library proportions. There are many popular titles and authors available, and currently the books are organized in alpha order by author, compliments of Margie. Change, as they say, is inevitable. One day on the heels of John White’s visit back in 2009 the POA added a book swap. As it methodically grew it took on characteristics of a library. Margie the librarian arrived in time to tirelessly give it organization and love so that an increasing number of islanders could enjoy reading. The old book swap will find a larger room in the future and no doubt more islanders will enjoy the selection of books and perhaps even donate more books. Maybe I am old fashioned to a degree, but I think it is wonderful that in this age of computers, online books, Kindles, and other high tech platforms there is still value in real libraries where island folks can look at real books, pick them up, read the cover and a few pages and then decide to borrow or trade. Physical libraries have become somewhat of a dinosaur, but I like those dinosaurs.
Margie now has an assistant, Kristen Keidel, who joined the team about 8 months ago to help organize thousands of books.
In the meantime, hats off to John White, the POA staff, Maybeth Christensen, Margie Quigley, Kristen Keidel, Marzena Friday, the other organizers, and the readers of the world. In the end good people, fine ideas, a positive outlook, care, and a community spirit make great things happen.
Schlitterbahn entryway.
Surfside Sandwich Shoppe celebrated its fifth anniversay last week. Way to go you guys!
The BACK PORCH oPEN 7 dAYS + nOON-2AM Live Music Gary P. Nunn
April 11
Larry Joe Taylor
April 12
Rankin Twins
April 18
The BACK PORCH Bar Ruben V
April 19
Scarecrow People
April 25
Lisa Morales
The
April 26
$2BACK Wacky Wednesdays! PORCH ON THE WATERFRONT
132 W. Cotter St. Bar
PortA
Standing wave pool at Schlitterbahn
Palm trees from the old Padre Isles County Club are being recycled for Schlitterbahn
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April 10, 2014
Jump Team Represents The Island at Airshow The NAS Kingsville "Wings Over South Texas" Airshow was opened last Saturday and Sunday by skydivers from the Island-based Skydive South Texas parachuting club.
Island Moon
Winners of Ferry Art Contest Original artwork will be displayed on vessels in Port Aransas fleet Winners of the Fourth Annual Port Aransas Ferry Art Contest include six works by four Coastal Bend artists along with three entries in the youth division, the Texas Department of Transportation Corpus Christi District announced this week.
Each day the team's jump plane was trailed up to altitude by the Walkabout Tigers Aerobatic Duo of Atlanta in their Yak-55 aircraft. Once the skydivers opened their parachutes, the Tigers circled them all the way to landing as the Star Spangled Banner played over the loudspeakers.
Winners in the adult division, selected from a field of 12 submissions, are: • “Fishing on the Jetty,” a watercolor painting by Corpus Christi artist Suzanne Balluck;
Jumpers Adam Abelow, Neil Rosales, Billy Burnham, Lane Rogers and Jason Towns-- all of Corpus Christi-- carried the American, Texas and POW/ MIA flags over the 100,000-plus crowd and into the outfield next to the Navy's Blue Angels. The team was piloted by Port Aransas home-builder and commercial pilot Gaylan Tucker.
• “Dawn Patrol,” a gyotaku, or Japanese fish print; “Rush to the Sea,” a watercolor; and “Treasures of the Seashore,” a watercolor on handmade rice paper; all by Dinah Bowman of Portland;
Gulftrout
• “Gulf Trout,” a watercolor by Marisa Eddins of Portland; and
Photos by Lisa Towns
• “Pier Pressure,” an acrylic work by Randy Hillin of Port Aransas. The winning artwork, two pieces per vessel, will be reproduced and placed on the control towers of three 20-vehicle ferries: B.L. DeBerry, Arnold Oliver and R.E. Stotzer Jr. In the 18-years-of-age-and-under division, winners are: an untitled work by Grayson Armstrong; “Circle of Day and Night,” by Fransesca Kososki and “Ocean Texas,” by Toby Smith. All of the young artists live in Port Aransas.
youth
Treasures of the Shore
The youth art will be placed on the larger, 28-vehicle ferries: Michael W. Behrens or Charles W. Heald. Artists were encouraged to submit works that illustrate the people, places, plants, animals, environment, scenes, settings, events or activities related to the Port Aransas ferry system and the Coastal Bend region. The entries were judged on relevance, creativity and overall impression.
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Rush to the Sea
Dawn Patrol
A 10
Island Moon
April 10, 2014