Island moon 8 22 2013 section a

Inside the Moon...

Fishing A9

On the Rocks A7

PIBA A11

The

Island Moon

FREE PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY

Building a Farly Boat A14

Island Music A18

Free

Weekly

361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com The Island Newspaper since 1996 Facebook : The Island Moon Newspaper

August 22, 2013

The Island where we live everyone else’s vacation…

Around The Island

By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com We actually had some rain this week. We got a good soaking late Friday night and more early in the week. It left puddles on the beach and confused the animals who hadn’t seen water falling from the sky in so long they forgot what it looked like.

It did improve beach driving, at least for a while, by firming up the soft, dry sand that has been a car eater for most of the summer season. The sea breeze continues to be cooler than normal for this time of year; cool being a relative term of course.

But will I see you again?

Police reported this week that a 28 year-old fellow met a 19 year-old woman online and they decided to go to the beach for their first date.

They headed for the beach but made a stop at a convenience store and the fellow went in to buy beer. When he came out his date and his 2012 Volkswagen Jetta were both gone. If you see a petite 19 year-old woman driving around in a white Jetta and decide to ask her out you might want to send her into the store for beer, otherwise you might be walking home. You got to admire her moxy.

Here we go The Corpus Christi City Council made it official this week; we will have an election in November to decide whether to borrow $44 million to build Destination Bayfront downtown. The irony is that not long ago the previous version of the council voted to move the city elections from the spring to November to coincide with the gubernatorial/Presidential election cycle for the stated purpose of saving the $40,000 it cost to hold the city-only elections in the spring. Now they have voted to hold an off-year election for the sole issue of Destination Bayfront at a cost of $200,000. That’s a pretty good flip-flop even by council standards.

The good news for The Island is that since it is the only item on the ballot the turnout will likely be very light – we’re guessing under 10,000; that means that if Islanders turn out in the same type of numbers we are used to seeing – about 4000 voters – the issue could be decided by Islanders if they all vote the same way (whichever way that might turn out to be).

Our collective share of the costs of the bonds for the project would be about $5 million.

Ski Basin Blues Once upon a time many of us dodged the Weekend Tourist Invasion by simply boating over to the Ski Basin and beaching up for a day away from the maddening crowd. No more. Now the crowd is about as apt to be as maddening at the Ski Basin as it is at the beach. Our last few trips have been exercises in dodging speeding boats and searching in vain for an empty piece of sand.

Photo By Barney Welch

Next Publication Date: 8/29/2013

Some projects and projections have come to fruition, others still on the drawing board

By Dale Rankin This week marks the tenth anniversary of groundbreaking for Packery Channel. It marked the beginning of the permanent restoration of a natural channel used by 19th Century mariners but which had not been permanently open since the 1930s. At the groundbreaking on Tuesday, August 19, at 11 a.m. the project kicked off amid optimism it would bring with it the Island development we are seeing today. Some of that promise has become reality, some is still languishing amid bureaucracy and inattention.

The pass was opened ahead of schedule, by Mother Nature, on July 5, 2005 when Hurricane Emily washed out a 300-foot wide sand plug that formed the last barrier between the newly dug channel and the Gulf of Mexico a few months earlier than engineers had planned. After Emily, dredging resumed in January, 2006 to allow Packery continued on A2

On Key Largo a man was in his back yard and his cooler was in his garage with the door up.

When he went to retrieve a beer both beer and Yeti were gone. At a boat shop OtB thieves broke into a boat shop and took nothing but Yeti Coolers, leaving behind tackle, electronic equipment, and other expensive items. A stolen custom-made cooler was listed on Craigslist and traced to a number in Flour Bluff.

The stealing of Yeti coolers has become a popular crime which began in the Pensacola area and now has spread to the Coastal Bend and looks like it will continue.

Then a few days ago thieves on Gold Fish were not content with taking coolers; they hooked up and took the whole trailer loaded with equipment and towed it off. In several cases the culprits were caught on camera but so far no Around continued on A4

Photo by Mary Craft

Corpus Christi Beach Lifeguards Honored by City

By Bob Algeo Mayor Nelda Martinez formally presented Corpus Christi Beach Lifeguards with Certificates of Commendation for the dramatic, life-saving rescues they performed off Micheal J. Ellis Beach, on June 30, 2013. Their Certificates of Commendation read, as follows:

Corpus Christi Lifeguard Team Members Daniel Krause, Kevin Bardwell, Robbie Krause, Chris Lewis The City of Corpus Christi, Mayor and City Council, are honored to present these fine men a Certificate of Commendation for their rescue of two sisters on June 30, 2013. The dangerous situation was first identified by Corpus Christi Daniel Krause who made an emergency call to the other lifeguards. All of these lifeguards immediately went into action. The sisters (ages 12 and 19) had been carried out to sea in a raft due to the water current and wind. At the time of their rescue by Lifeguard Kevin Bardwell on

Paddlers Get Ready!

4th Annual Paddle for Parkinson’s August 31st

Pictured from left to right; Lifeguard Supervisor Micheal Smith, Lifeguards Robbie Krause, Kevin Bardwell, Chris Lewis, Daniel Krause, and Mayor Nelda Martinez.

Photo by Bob Algeo his paddle board, their small raft had capsized and they were in the water with no life-vests with only a small paddle from the raft to hold onto. They were out of breath and in bad shape due to the panic and struggle trying to control the raft and then stay afloat after they were in the water. These sisters were very blessed this

day. They had a team of highly trained Corpus Christi Lifeguards, who identified them in distress, and went to great lengths, even at risk of their own personal safety, to save their lives.

It is a day these six people will never forget.

Thank you for your brave hearts! We appreciate you all very much!

SMA Students Return to School

By Brent Rourk

There was a flurry of activity on Monday morning at Seashore Middle Academy as students began their school year, first with an assembly, then to their advisory, followed by setting-up their lockers and finally by jumping into their schedule of classes.

Students will once again begin the opportunity and challenge of growing another year, in height, knowledge, and maturity. Many 5th grade students look forward to arriving at the SMA campus, after a successful time at SLC. For many youngsters, the start of school sadly signals an ending to the long, lazy, and fun days of summer. For others, it is a time to see friends and enjoy learning as well as socializing. Many students begin the year by playing sports for SMA, another fun endeavor.

Yeti Monsters

In another case on A La Entada thieves, again caught on tape, approached on a small white boat with a trolling motor and swiped two Yeti coolers.

Year 16, Issue 488

Packery Channel Groundbreaking Was Ten Years Ago This Week

What used to be a family spot, much like an upland lake, is now more often an earsplitting decibel battle between marble-throated County crooners extolling the virtues of their pickup trucks and profanity-laden rappers using off the chain words not heard in the Bible. Maybe it’s just a sign of the times but it reminds us of the old Yogi Berra line, “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.”

We’re having a rash of thefts from trailers and boats around The Island and the bait of choice is Yeti Coolers which they turn around and sell on Craigslist and in pawn shops. In one case on Vincent last week the thieves simply grabbed two Yeti Coolers from a boat parked in a driveway and were caught on tape.

Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

Ms. Beeler addresses Seashore students.

So what did students have to say about the beginning of school and the end of summer days?

Ashley Moore, 8th grade, confided, “I was excited for school to start and got a lot of new clothes and school supplies.”

Tristan Cardon, 7th grade, shared, “I am excited to be in the upper half of the grade levels”.

School continued on A4

A Little Island History The 2013 Paddle for Parkinson’s event is taking place on August 31, Labor Day weekend and registration is now open.

The 2012 Paddle for Parkinson’s raised over $15,000!! A huge thank you to everyone who helped with this great cause! Catch the Cure has contributed over $52,500 to Parkinson’s Disease research since 2007!

The event kicks off at Billish Park, Saturday, August 31. Pickup for registration packet pickup is Friday August 30 at Sweet Swirl (14457 SPID., #107) from 4:00 until 7:00.

Start time for the event on Saturday is 9:00am by vessel category Surf Ski - 9:00am, Single Kayak - 9:10am, Tandem Kayak - 9:20am; Standup Paddle Board - 9:30am; Any Vessel Category (only for those that missed their Start Time above) - 9:40am.

Please arrive at least 45 minutes prior to your vessel category start time otherwise you will have to start at the scheduled 9:40am time.

Billish Park is located at 15601 Gypsy Street.

For questions call call us at (361) 726-1670 or (361) 949-7719 or see the Catch Cure Website at www.catchthecure.org.

Ranchers Trapped by 1916 Storm

By Greg Smith On August 12, 1916 a tropical storm formed in the Atlantic 400 miles west of the Lesser Antilles. Three thousand miles away in Corpus Christi Patrick Dunn’s son, Burton and his nephew Spohn McGowan were making plans to go down the Island and check the Cattle herds grazing up and down the Island.

Island cattle drive Burton, twenty-seven, had left his job at the Corpus Christi National Bank the year prior to take a greater role in operating the Dunn Ranch on the Island and build his own herd as Pat become more involved in State politics, running for his third term as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. Eight years before Patrick had entrusted Burton to run his first major cattle drive. At that time there was a fence across the Island that separated the Island into two pastures. In the South pasture there were 900 yearlings fattening up for market. Today it is a simple matter of backing the cattle trailer up to the

Patrick Dunn, Spohn Magowan & Sisto Del Marez on Padre Island chute, loading the animals, and an hour and half drive to the sale barn in Alice or George West.

History continued on A6

Island Moon

A 2

August

22,

2013

Packery continued from A1

361-949-7281 PARTY HOME! Location, Location, Location!

Well-built.

WATERFRONT 13549 Camino de Plata $399,000

The site before the channel. All photos by Andre LaVoy unless otherwise noted

January 2005

C

a

u

s

e

w

a

y

Climate Controlled Storage

Starting at $39.00

April 2005

Flo ur B luff Dr.

HEB

Flour Bluff

Lag una Sho res

Climate CoNtrol oN site maNaGer opeN 7 Days eleCtroNiC Gate aCCess ViDeo surVeillaNCe HouseHolD & CommerCial moViNG supplies aVailable

Wa ldro nR oad

No loNG lease aGreemeNt!

Storage iS our buSineSS! offiCe Hours:

m-f 8:30-6:00

(361) 937-8673

sat 8:30-5:30

10514 S.P.i.d.

The Beach Bums chip in barge traffic through for construction and final completion was done in October 2006.

Full Service Hospital

Now, a decade after the project began the 3000-foot long channel has become such an assimilated and essential part of the Island landscape it is hard to remember when it wasn’t there. Since its opening the channel and jetties have weathered hurricanes Katrina in August 2005, Rita is September of that same year, and Ike in September 2008 which dropped enough sand in the main channel that a re-dredging process was undertaken last year, the third since the initial dredging, that provide enough sand to widen the beach at the seawall to several hundred feet. Prior to the dredging of the channel the beach in that area was less than one hundred feet wide.

Preventative & Wellness Medicine

Laser Surgery Laser Therapy Ultrasound Radiology Clinical Lab Spay & Neuter Walk-Ins Welcome Drop Offs Welcome

Flea & Tick Control Intestinal Parasite Control Heartworm Prevention Dental Cleaning & Polishing Allergy Testing & Medicine Hill’s Rx Science Diet Foods Senior Wellness Medicine

The project

Dr. Christi Kresser

Voted Best Veterinarian 2006 - 2012

Voted Best of the Best Pet Services of 2006-2012 Boarding & Grooming Dogs - Cats - Birds In-Door Boarding Climate Controlled Separate Cat/Dog Rooms Summer Shave Downs Breed Specific Cuts Bath & Nail Trims

PREVENTIC Collar Director’s Feature Coupon -$5.00 Kills & Detaches Ticks for 3 Months Dr. Christi Kresser Recommends PREVENTIC

®

TICK COLLAR FOR DOGS

Coupons * Coupons * Coupons * Coupons * Coupons * Coupons *

Director’s Feature Service 20% OFF Coupon Dental Prophylaxis or Senior Wellnes Profile Dr. Christi Kresser Reccomends Only the BEST

Feature Product

Trifexis

(spinosad+milbemucin oxime) Kills Fleas Controls Flea Infestation Prevents Heartworm Disease Treats & Controls Intestinal Parasites 1 YEAR SUPPLY

$25.00 Off Mfg. Rebate $20.00 Off Dr. Christi Kresser

Director of Marketing and Operations

Total Savings $45.00

The project description for Packery Channel was not organized or funded as a channel project per se; instead it was constituted as a beach re-nourishment project and funded by an earmark placed on an unrelated bill by then Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The cost was $30 million funded by both the Federal Government ($20 million), the State (General Land Office Grant of $1.3 million) and the City of Corpus Christi ($8.3 million).

The local share of the project is financed by the Padre Island Tax Increment Financing District (PITIF), also known as a Tax Increment Finance Zone (TIFZ) which was established for a 20 year period in beginning 2001. The taxing district allocates ad valorem tax revenue generated by new construction in the zone which occurs after its founding for improvements inside the zone.

These projects around the channel, which came to be known as the Six Pack were not part of the original project plans approved by voters when they passed the project at the polls in April 2001. They were formulated by the Corpus Christi City Council in the months after the vote and have become the model for improvements in the area. A few have been completed, picnic areas along the south side of the channel, and boat ramps and parking near the Packery/SH 361 Bridge. Others, such as restrooms on the south side of the channel, and a pavilion on the north side, are still on the drawing board.

Each of those projects as well as dredging for channel Continued on next page

August 22, 2013

Continued from previous page maintenance are paid for by money from the TIFZ which historically raises between $1.3 and $4 million each year; the current city budget shows a fund balance of $6.3 million in the fund now. Part of that money has been placed in the city’s Capital Improvement Budget for next year to build handicap ramps to both the north and south side jetties, which is Phase 4 of the Six Pack projects, and for restrooms on the beach north of the channel which is Phase 3.

The plan Feasibility studies done in preparation for work in the project called for the jetties to extend at least 1400 feet from the shoreline with spurs on the end of each to reduce sand flow into the channel. The initial estimate was that the channel would need maintenance dredging each year; however, the water flow through the channel was much more robust that anticipated and according to Deidre Williams who monitors the channel for the city and the Corps of Engineers through the Conrad Blucher Institute’s Packery Channel Monitoring Program the latest dredging project was only necessary because of the sand left by Hurricane Ike. The original plan called for the channel to be dredged to 11 feet with a 140-foot bottom width, with 300 feet between the jetties. The basin just east of the 361 Bridge was to be dredged to 13 feet to allow for some sand deposit there and for greater ease by dredges in future maintenance dredging projects. When completed it was actually dredged to 12 feet with a 122-foot wide channel with a total length of 18,500 feet.

The original dig removed 967,500 cubic yards of sand from the channel which was pumped through slurry lines to the beach south of the cut.

In some aspects the new channel behaved in the way scientists expected, in others it did not. The first surprise was the sheer volume of water which came in through the channel.

It moved in much greater quantity and speed than anticipated. It also did not necessarily stay in the channel once it passed under the bridge,

Island Moon

A3

Senior Moments but rather found its way north into the flats and shallows around the Mollie Beattie wildlife habitat. While the water rose in the flats over a period of several hours, it rushed out all at once and deteriorated the shoreline along the west side of the channel taking as much as fifty feet from the backyards of several houses there.

Over the years, according to the annual reports done by Williams’ group, there has alternately been shoaling and scouring on the bottom just outside the mouth of the channel over the years.

However, she said in her report last year, prior to the latest dredging that the channel has been able to keep itself open with normal water flow except when anomalies, such as a hurricane, deposit large amounts of sand in the channel.

The benefits As plans for the channel went forward in April, 2004, the Mustang-Padre Island Area Development Plan was formed in order to provide a strategic framework for economic development spurred by the new channel. It was through this plan that the TIFZ was formed.

Much of the estimated economic benefits from the channel came from a 1997 Environmental Impact Study required for the project which indicated that by 2018, the project would produce some 3,500 new jobs which would provide an additional $13.8 million in annual wages to the area’s economy. In addition the study found the new channel would add an additional $42 million spent by visitors to the area by 2008, a figure that would increase to $89 million by 2023.

No studies have been done since to determine if those numbers were accurate.

What can be said with certainty is that ten years after it began Packery Channel has brought much needed Gulf water into the Island canal system, and the project now underway for an Island waterpark, marina, water exchange bridge under SPID (Park Road 22), and Beach Walk would not have happened without it.

And it all began ten years ago this week.

Rooster Club

By Dotson Lewis dlewis1@stx.rr.com

Saved by a gull

Dotson’s Note: Did you ever hear of the Rooster Club in Japan? It was a club that I ran into in the summer of 1947 in Sinjuku (Tokyo) Japan. They were a group of former members of the Japanese Imperial Air Force (some were Kamikaze) pilots. They called themselves the Roosters, because roosters are the only birds that don’t fly. As an 18 year old American GI, I was very interested and they welcomed me into the club (I will never understand why) with open arms. In future issues I plan to relate to the readers of the Moon, some of the stories they shared with me, and also what happened to a few of them after they realized that the war was over and they had survived. But first I believe that I should remind you of my number one American hero.

His full name: Eddie Rickenbacker. He was a famous hero in World War I, and now was also in WWII. On one of his flying missions across the Pacific, he and his seven-member crew went down. Miraculously, all of the men survived, crawled out of their plane, and climbed into a life raft.

Captain Rickenbacker and his crew floated for days on the rough waters of the Pacific. They fought the sun. They fought sharks. Most of all, they fought hunger and thirst. By the eighth day their rations ran out. No food. No water.

They were hundreds of miles from land and no one knew where they were or even if they were alive. Every day across America millions wondered and prayed that Eddie Rickenbacker might somehow be found alive.

This is a wonderful story, and it is true. I believe that you will be pleased that you read it. It is an important piece of American history.

It happened every Friday evening, almost without fail, when the sun resembled a giant orange and was starting to dip into the blue ocean.

The men adrift needed a miracle. That afternoon they had a simple devotional service and prayed for a miracle. They tried to nap. Eddie leaned back and pulled his military cap over his nose. Time dragged on. All he could hear was the slap of the waves against the raft...

Old Ed came strolling Suddenly; Eddie felt along the beach to his something land on the top of favorite pier. Clutched his cap. in his bony hand was a bucket of shrimp. Ed It was a seagull!

Eddie Rickenbacker walks out to the end of the pier, where it seems Old Ed would later describe he almost has the world to himself. The glow of how he sat perfectly still, planning his next the sun is a golden bronze now. move. With a flash of his hand and a squawk Everybody’s gone, except for a few joggers on from the gull, he managed to grab it and wring the beach. Standing out on the end of the pier, its neck. He tore the feathers off, and he and Ed is alone with his thoughts...and his bucket of his starving crew made a meal of it - a very shrimp. Before long, however, he is no longer slight meal for eight men. Then they used the alone. Up in the sky a thousand white dots come intestines for bait. With it, they caught fish, screeching and squawking, winging their way which gave them food and more bait . . . and toward that lanky frame standing there on the the cycle continued. With that simple survival technique, they were able to endure the rigors of end of the pier. the sea until they were found and rescued after Before long, dozens of seagulls have enveloped 24 days at sea. him, their wings fluttering and flapping wildly.

Eddie Rickenbacker lived many years beyond Ed stands there tossing shrimp to the hungry that ordeal, but he never forgot the sacrifice birds. As he does, if you listen closely, you can hear him say with a smile, “Thank you. of that first life-saving seagull... And he never Thank you.” In a few short minutes the bucket stopped saying, ‘Thank you.’ That’s why almost is empty. But Ed doesn’t leave. He stands there every Friday night he would walk to the end of lost in thought, as though transported to another the pier with a bucket full of shrimp and a heart full of gratitude. time and place.

Flying Ace

When he finally turns around and begins to walk back toward the beach, a few of the birds hop along the pier with him until he gets to the stairs, and then they, too, fly away. And old Ed quietly makes his way down to the end of the beach and on home. If you were sitting there on the pier with your fishing line in the water, Ed might seem like ‘a funny old duck,’ as some used to say. Or, to onlookers, he’s just another old codger, lost in his own weird world, feeding the seagulls with a bucket full of shrimp.

Groundbreaking

Rickenbacker was the founder of Eastern Airlines. Before WWI he was race car driver. In WWI he was a pilot and became America’s first ace. In WWII he was an instructor and military adviser, and he flew missions with the combat pilots. Eddie Rickenbacker is a true American hero. And now you know another story about the trials and sacrifices than brave men have endured for your freedom.

Captain Rickenbacker suffered from a stroke while he was in Switzerland seeking special medical treatment for Mrs. Rickenbacker, and he then contracted pneumonia. Rickenbacker died on July 23, 1973 in Zürich, Switzerland. A memorial service was held at the Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church with the eulogy given by Lt. General Jimmy Doolittle.

To the onlooker, rituals can look either very strange or very empty. They can seem altogether unimportant; maybe even a lot of nonsense. Old folks often do strange things, at least in the eyes of Boomers and Busters. Most of them would probably write Old Ed off, down there in Florida. That’s too bad. They’d do well to know him better.

It is not recorded if any seagulls were present for the service.

Deluxe Nails

Mon - Sat 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m - 5 p.m.

Deluxe Pedicure with Hot Stone Massage & Paraffin Hot Wax Offering: s Eyelash Extension s Pink & White Full Set s Solar Nails s Nail Design s Gel Nails s Waxing

Packery under construction by Mary Craft

s Manicure

t Sanitary and Professional Nail Service t Gift Certificates Are Available

361 949-1794

Appt. or Walk-in Welcome Next to Padre Pizzeria

14493 S. Padre Island Dr., Unit B Corpus Christi, TX 78418

The BACK PORCH oPEN 7 dAYS + nOON-2AM Live Music

The Aug. 22 Darryl Lee Rush Aug. 23 BACK PORCH Milk Drive Aug. 24 Bar Aug. 29 Brooke Graham The Ones

Davin James

Aug. 30

Larry Joe Taylor

Aug. 31

The

BACK PORCH

$2 WackyBar Wednesdays!

ON THE WATERFRONT

132 W. Cotter St.

PortA

A 4

Island Moon

Around continued from A1

School continued from A1

arrests have been made.

Cayla Pate, 8th grade, offered wistfully, “Everybody is smiling except for me.”

So pull down your garage doors, lock your car doors and trailer hitches, and if you have a Yeti cooler don’t leave it in your boat.

Light in the summer tunnel We don’t have groundhogs on The Island to tell when summer is coming to a close; pocket gophers make a poor substitute. Our version of Punxsutawney Phil is more like an Islander who drives to Bob Hall Pier and counts the number of lobster tans to see if it’s safe to go the beach on the weekend.

For the next two weeks he’s gonna see plenty of lobster tans, but take heart fellow Islanders for the end of the summer season is in sight. In a mere two weeks the beaches will clear, happy hour prices will extend past seven o’clock, and weekend trips OTB will be as carefree as trips OTB can ever be.

We like our tourist season just fine but in some ways it’s sort of like a prostate exam; it feels so good when it stops.

Dee-Scoveries

Duty Calls

Jacob Martinez 8th grade, said with a smile, “I was happy for school to start so I could see friends and staff.”

by Devorah Fox

I had planned a different story for you, my faithful readers, but duty called. Jury duty, that is.

Blaine Young, 8th grade, thought for a minute and then explained, “It is going to be sad when we have to leave [at the end of the school year] but it is about learning.”

Theodore Libby, 6th grade, happily announced, “I am happy to see my friends, but I kinda miss summer.”

SMA Principal Barbara Beeler commented about the first morning, “We are thrilled to be starting our seventh year at Seashore Middle Academy. Our enrollment has grown from 68 to 200 students over that time.”

Michele Ortega, 5th grade staff member smiled as she stated, “So far, so good. It is nice to meet the new 5th grade students. They have great manners.”

Say hello if you see us Around The Island.

Have your Say Send a letter to the Moon at editor@islandmoon.com, It’s your Island, get involved.

Students organize their lockers Photo by Shannon Trial

Restaurant

& Wine Bar

A few weeks ago I had received by US Mail a summons to appear at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 12 at the Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi or risk a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500. The juror qualifications and exemptions are listed right on the summons. If I claimed to be disqualified or exempt I could complete the form, mail it back and not appear. I was qualified and none of the exemptions applied.

I could report to the Central Jury Room on the preceding Friday to get released for a “reasonable excuse.” I could also apply online for a one-time no questions asked exemption. Since I didn’t choose to do either of those, my only other option was to show up as summoned. Note: being indispensable at your job is not considered a “reasonable excuse” so don’t waste your time or the court’s with that one.

I don’t get to downtown Corpus Christi very often and didn’t quite remember where the Courthouse was located. Fortunately there was a handy dandy map right on the summons. To give myself plenty time to get lost or find a parking space, I left Port Aransas at 7 a.m. Parking turned out not to be a problem, at least not at that hour. There are several lots around the Courthouse with free parking.

In the Central Jury Room on the Courthouse’s ground floor, hundreds (thousands?) of people sat in stack chairs placed as tightly as the coach seats on an airplane. The tight squeeze made it tough even to flip the pages on my customary legal pad. So instead of writing I simply sat and waited. “Waiting” was pretty much the order of the day.

-SUNDAY BUBBLY BUBBLY ALL HALF PRICE!

-SUNDAY BRUNCH11:00 - 3:00 PM -MONDAYALL WINES 1/2 PRICE by the glass or by the bottle

$6

Wine Flights Every Day

361-749-2212

3500 Island Moorings Parkway at The Island Moorings Yacht Club & Marina in Port Aransas

www.labaratariarestaurantwinebar.com

-THURSDAYMARTINI MADNESS! $6 executive martinis

HOURS

I was surprised to see the number of people who showed up wearing shorts despite the fact that the summons clearly states they’re not permissible attire. Also not allowed are hats or caps. Stow your sunglass too. Sliding them to the top of your head isn’t permitted.

“All persons entering the courtroom should be dressed in clothing reasonably befitting the dignity and solemnity of the court proceedings” states the summons. Being from Port Aransas where tee shirts and flip flops are the dress of the day, it was tantamount to culture shock to see so many suits, ties and high heels in one place. Do think about bringing a sweater or a jacket.

For the comfort of those in the many layers of business dress, the courtrooms are kept on the cool side.

At about 8:20 .a.m., the court administrator called us to order, reiterated the rules about cell phones and caps and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the juror’s oath. A representative of the Coastal Bend Blood Center alerted us to presence of the Bloodmobile at the courthouse curb and urged us to donate blood. The impaneling judge who that day was Nanette Hassett took last minute requests for exemptions for disqualification or “reasonable excuses.”

Monday, Thursday, Friday 4 pm - 10 pm Saturday Noon - 10 pm Sunday 11 am - 10 pm Closed Tuesday & Wednesday

At about 9 a.m. the process of creating jury panels began. A section of seated people was asked to stand against the wall.

The administrator called out the names of candidates picked at random who then sat in the newly vacated numbered seats. Panels created for district courts consisted of 60 or even 80 people while 30 or fewer people were picked for county courts of laws. I ended up

Michelle Matthews

Hair Cuts & Color, Waxing, Hair Extensions, Special Occasion Hair, Airbrush Make Up, Feather Extensions Are you tired of wearing mascara? Do you suffer from black circles of smudged mascara? Do you want to have long beautiful lashes 24/7, even when you swim? Do you want longer fuller eyelashes? If you answered YES to any of these questions, we have the answer..........

XTREME™ EYELASH EXTENSIONS Michelle is a Master Hair Stylist having learned from the best and having trained top stylists herself.

She is an expert Colorist and Make Up Artist, and was the former Stylist and Make Up Artist for Miss Oklahoma.

Almost as soon as it was created, the panel for one county court was excused. This happens when a defendant pleads out at the last minute thereby eliminating the need for a trial. Another group was told to be prepared to return on Wednesday and sent home for the day with instructions to check the Juror Hotline Tuesday night for further information. The relief of those released at least for the rest of the day was evident on their faces.

Our group was ushered through the security checkpoint and upstairs to the 7th floor where again we formed lines in order to file into the jury room in an orderly fashion. The judge, Deanna Galvan, introduced herself and the day’s proceedings which were going to be about a DWI charge. The prosecutor gave us the legal definition of “DWI” and described what we were and were not likely to hear in the way of testimony and evidence.

She wanted to be assured that we didn’t have lofty expectations based on crime shows like “Law and Order” or “CSI.” The defense attorney followed with comments about the charge and proceedings from his perspective.

Then the prosecutor began the “voir dire,” a phrase from the Old French for “that which is true.” It refers to the process by which prospective jurors answer questions in order to determine whether they should sit on a particular jury. We were asked if we had sat on a jury in the past and if that had been for a criminal case. Quite a few of us answered in the affirmative including

Hours Tuesday‐Friday 10am‐6pm

Saturday 9am‐2pm

Walk‐Ins Welcome * Late Appointments Available

Judge Galvan me. The prosecutor finished quizzing us collectively and individually. The defense attorney began his round of questions by testing our understanding of the concept of “innocent until proven guilty.” And then the courtroom lights when out.

Backup generators quickly kicked in turning on some overhead lighting but since it was close to noon, the judge decided this was a good time for a lunch break. Not wanting to move my car only to discover I couldn’t find another place to park, I walked a few blocks and discovered The Mesquite Street Grill on the corner of Mesquite Street and Williams.

I had a very nice hamburger with homemade potato chips and made it back to court in plenty of time for the resumption of the voir dire.

Like the prosecutor, the defense attorney was concerned about our ability to be fair and impartial about applying the law regardless of our personal feelings about drinking and driving. Also at issue were our expectations that the defendant would take the stand. The defense attorney wanted to make sure that if his client chose not to, as was his right, we wouldn’t be biased against him.

We were all then excused from the courtroom and waited in the hallway while the attorneys decided who would be on the jury. My story ends here because I didn’t make the cut. I had missed an entire work day but I can’t complain about any undue delays. I’d have to say the process had been conducted with efficiency and decorum. I drove home pondering weighty questions of law and order and whether I ought to wear high heels more often.

For more information about jury duty service in Nueces County visit the Web site at http:// www.co.nueces.tx.us. To reach the Juror Hotline log in to http://jury.co.nueces.tx.us or call (361) 888-0280. Find the courthouse

GIFTS CERTIFICATES AVALIABLE

in the group for County Court of Law #3.

I should have left my iPad at home. There is no WiFi, only 3G and not many bars at that. We were instructed to power down our cell phones completely not only in the Central Jury Room but especially in the courtrooms where a ringing cell phone will be confiscated. Don’t bother bringing snacks, coffee or even water either. Food and drink are disallowed.

Including: Mimosas, Champagne Cocktails and House Specialty Champagne Martinis

August 22, 2013

14813 S.P.I.D. Corpus Christi, TX 78418 (Next Door to Island Wash) Salon: 361‐949‐4890 www.michellessalon.com

August 22, 2013

Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder

Island Moon

Letters to the editor Police Boat

Response,

Editor, At the June meeting of the Board of Directors of our POA (Padre Island Home Owners Association) it was discussed and agreed by the board that a substantial donation be given to the effort of purchasing a $78,000.00 patrol boat that will cruise the canals around the island writing speeding and DUI tickets. It may even be possible for the two policemen on the patrol boat to catch thieves attempting to remove the out board motor from the back of your boat or the valuables you store on your deck.

Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery

Problem is two cops, one boat and now I understand that the patrol will only operate a couple days a week and the canals in Flour Bluff have been added to the patrol area. A boater speeds through a canal which is a rare occurrence anyway and the patrol boat is called into action, the boat is not on the water that day or it is cruising the canals in Flour Bluff. Now what?? Homeowners who do not live on a canal or boat are the majority of property owners on the Island and will receive no benefit from this poorly conceived patrol boat idea. Seems POA funds that are derived from homeowner monthly dues could be better spent. Would one or two patrol CARS purchased and assigned to patrol our island streets perhaps be a better use of homeowner funds?

Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Patrick Kelliher Office Lisa Towns Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Devorah Fox Mary Craft

Many questions need be asked, answered and considered before this effort goes much further, I would suggest a starting point might be to find who came up with the idea, amount of POA donation, what are the total costs, docking fees, insurance, fuel, staffing & payroll, is a new ordinance required to give the police authority to issue tickets or make arrests?

Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Todd Hunter Danniece Bobeché Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk

The next POA Board meeting is August 27 at 5:30 pm at the POA office. Whether you are for or against this donation attend the meeting and let your voice be heard.

Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan

The PIPOA supports efforts to improve the safety and well-being of those using our canals and waterways. This includes ways to ensure that boats and personal watercraft follow the posted No-Wake requirements. A discussion to allow CCPD to obtain, man, and operate a marine patrol unit in PIPOA canals and waterways is currently underway in local governmental venues but no decisions have been made regarding these proposals. While the PIPOA has no governmental oversight of CCPD or the decision whether to establish a marine patrol unit, we are extremely interested in the discussions and will participate in them when given the opportunity. During one recent PIPOA board meeting, the marine patrol unit was discussed since, if established, it would potentially impact the safety of those in our canals and waterways. Since there were no written proposals to evaluate and no representatives present from any organization involved in the operation of a marine patrol unit, the board’s discussion, which included our own questions on costs, expenses, and options for funding a unit, was extremely preliminary and resulted in no motion, nor vote, to commit funds of any type. Mr. McShane is correct when he says that “many questions need to be asked, answered, and considered…” before establishing a marine patrol unit and I am confident that the due diligence required will be done by those cognizant organizations before any decision is made to create this unit.

He is incorrect, however, when he states that the board agreed to provide a substantial donation to the effort. If a plan is presented to the board for consideration, we will, as always, evaluate it on its merits and decide whether our support is in the best interests of our property owners.

Sincerely, Jeffrey F. Carlson, POA Board President

John McShane

Mary Craft

13 Year Canal Island Resident & Boater

Beach Cleanup & Taxes

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

Our Island needs tax dollars but we already know restrictions are in place. HEB was stopped from building on the Island. I doubt McDonalds will ever be on the Island because I’m sure it has tried many times which I think is fine. If you have ever been to San Diego and gone to Sea Port Village it’s clean, it’s beautiful and a great tax asset to the city. Small little quaint shops, snach shops, and... food priced for all incomes.

We have the room and we as residents can enjoy something besides trashy beaches and streets we now face every weekend. These changes may make the city step up and keep our beaches and streets clean because it means dollars in the bank!!!!! I understand some people don’t like change and enjoy there trashy beaches just like they are. We need to generate TAX DOLLARS to keep our Island CLEAN for EVERYONE to ENJOY!!!! Those who don’t like change need to bite the bullet. I also would like to see beach passes increased to $50.00 dollars a year, 20.00 a day for all beaches including Bob Hall Pier.

A discount for Island residents who can prove it by their drivers license. Highly enforced with double fines!!!! Hopefully the City will use the extra money for trash clean up on our beaches and the Park Rd.

PI Dog Group (PIDOG) A group of Islanders is working on setting up a dog park for our 4-legged friends and in the process have started a dog group so dog owners can find more opportunities to play with their pups. If you’re interested in joining the dog group you can call Bev Hoffman at 949-7551 or sign up on the website. Speaking of the website, you can learn more about the park as well - just head over to: www.PadreIslandDogPark.com.

Did You Know?

Houston opened their first neighborhood dog park in 2004. It’s called Ervan Chew Dog Park.

There are now 29 dog parks in the Houston area.

Name withheld by request

Traffic I read with great interest Dale Rankin’s article re: Island traffic. Did the powers to be consider the current influx of traffic and what the additional future 800 Schlitterbahn cars impact will have?

My main residence is in New Braunfels and as the song goes, “you ain’t seen nothin yet” Franco Angelo Santa Maria

Ray Vanderpool

Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

Where to Find The Island Moon Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant Pioneer RV Park Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A

Wild Horse Saloon

So what’s the black goo all over the beach (and in the water) on the north end of PINS? Went about 1 1/2 miles south from the North Beach parking area. It was everywhere, got all over our shoes, our dogs. Looks like oil to me, but haven’t been able to find anything about a recent spill. Anybody know anything?

Tarpon Ice House

Pam Donnelly

Port A Glass Studio The Gaff

North Padre

Miss K’s Catering & Bistro

All Stripes Stores

Amano

Whataburger

Felder Gallery

Doc’s Restaurant

Island Woman Boutique

Snoopy’s Pier

Coast Club Coffee Waves Moby Dicks Spanky’sLiquor IGA Grocery Store Port A Business Center Carter Pharmacy

CVS

Isle Mail N More Island Italian Holiday Inn Texas Star (Shell) Jesse’s Liquor Padre Isles Country Club Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant

Wash Board Laundry Mat

Subway

Public Library Chamber of Commerce Duckworth Antiques Back Porch Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place The Flat’s Lounge Giggity’s Stripes @ Cotter & Station

Editor’s note: We spoke to Juan Rodriguez, Chief of Interpretation at Padre Island National Seashore, and he said the large tar balls began rolling in last Friday and were heavy throughout the weekend but now have let up. Juan said the Coast Guard took samples and had them tested and found out they are from natural seepage coming up from along the Continental Shelf, not from a leaking oil well. He said they picked them up around Malaquite Beach and handed them over to Hazmat crews for disposal. He’s not sure how far down they were washing up.

Ace Hardware

San Juan’s Taqueria

Port A Parks and Rec

Beach Tar

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

Port Aransas Police

A5

Club News

The Island Moon provides this space for Island organizations. If you are a member of a club and want to get the word out about your events and/or projects send them along and we will get them in.

Be sure to include a brief description of what your organization does and a contact person for those interested in joining.

Send the info to editor@islandmoon.com and we will include it. Or call us at 949-7700.

PIDOG. PI Dog Group (PIDOG). A group of Islanders is working on setting up a dog park for our 4-legged friends and in the process have started a dog group so dog owners can find more opportunities to play with their pups. If you’re interested in joining the dog group you can call Bev Hoffman at 949-7551 or sign up on the website. Speaking of the website, you can learn more about the park as well - just head over to: www.PadreIslandDogPark.com.

IUPAC (Island United Political Action Committee): Maximize representation of Corpus Christi residents on Padre and Mustang Islands in area government by promoting and supporting, by the endorsement process, proactive and unified voting in non-partisan races and other issues and referendums put to public vote.

Contact Persons: President – Linda A Walsh lawalshva@yahoo.com 361-445-7999.

Secondary Contact Person: Member – Brent Hess, bhess0604@gmail.com. 361-774-0089.

Board members: Rhonda Beadle, Gladys Choyke, Phyllis Freeman, Jim Gaugler, Brent Hess, Brent Moore, Bob Paulison, Victoria Munt Rogers, Brent Rourk, John Vaughn, Linda Walsh Meetings: Open to the public, meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 4th at Punta Vista Clubhouse on Seahorse at 6:00 P.M. Coming up: October 14th 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at the Seashore Middle Academy (SMA) gym. Todd Hunter will present the Constitutional Amendments that we will be voting on in November. He will also discuss HCR56 – Cruise ship industry in South Texas and HCR59 – Water Desalination. Council Member Colleen McIntyre will discuss all of the city bond issues that we will be voting on in November.

P.I.E. Padre Island Enrichment Club, Inc. Mission Statement: To enrich the lives of residents on Padre Island (women) through social activities and community involvement.

Motto: “Bloom Where You Are Planted” On September 13th the program will be Larry Running Turtle who will present the Native American spiritual path. He is the author of the book “The Pipe and the Pen.” Make your reservations by noon Wednesday, September 11th to PIELuncheon@aol.com.

For membership, call Sheila at 949-2702 or email srlipstreu72@aol.com.

Or President Cheryl Henry henry9090@aol. com 361-215-4622.

Padre Island Yacht Club - A members only club. For questions contact Victoria, PIYC Communications Director, 361-548-6804.

Parrot Heads of Port Aransas – A not-forprofit organization whose purpose is to assist in community and environmental concerns and provide a variety of social activities for people who wish to volunteer. Founded in 2009 the club Their motto is “Partying With a Purpose.”

They are sponsoring a Wings Over Port A/ Latitude With An Attitude fundraiser for the Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) on the weekend of October 4.

To participate or for questions call Donnie Simpson 210 367-2674.

POA - Padre Isles Owners Association.

The Association’s primary responsibility is to maintain the Common Areas, assess and collect the annual fees and provide information and assistance to property owners. .. Membership in PIPOA is automatic for anyone acquiring record legal title to any property within Padre Isles. Their office is located at 14015 Fortuna Bay Drive on The Island. (361) 949-7025, padreisles@pipoa.net ARK – Animal Rehabilitation Keep. Located in Port Aransas the ARK is affiliate with the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Center. They handle the rehabilitation of most species of wildlife in the area with an emphasis on marine animals. They care for abut 1300 animals each year, including about 300 sea turtles and more than 100 species of birds. If you find an animal in peril they can help Tony Amos is the Director. 750 Channel View Dr. Port Aransas. 361 749-6793, 361 4427638. afamos@mail.utexas.edu.

Island Strategic Action Committee. A 14-member committee which meets (usually) the at 5:30 on the first Tuesday of each month at the Padre Isles Country Club. The committee’s purpose is to advise the Corpus Christi City Council on matters pertaining to The Island. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 10 at Padre Isles Country Club.

Towels for Timon’s Timon’s Ministries is a day resource center serving the Flour Bluff Community and the Island. It’s goal is to provide a ‘Helping Hand to Dignity’ by assisting it’s clients get back into the mainstream. Forms of assistance include: acquiring Birth Certificates, Identification Cards, Drivers Licenses, Professional Licenses, GED testing, School Funding, Job Skills and Training to drug free clients.

Timon’s also provides free Medical, Dental and Eye care to non insured/low income folks from throughout the area; additionally, provision of free showers and laundry. Current needs include gently used towels, as well as those extra soaps, shampoos, etc. collected from your vacations.

A 6

Letters to Riley

By Riley P. Dog Dear Riley’s humans,

Dear Riley

Tell Riley thanks for meeting us at the Back Porch Sunday evening, helping us make a happy plate of French fries is good with us even if you are on a diet.

We live on Padre Island too. We look forward to your adventures every week. You have such an exciting life. We don’t go out much and never get a hot dog. We don’t have a cat either so we get no treats like that. My human said she would get a hot dog for you and we will bring it. Maybe we could get your autograph.

Love, Camryn & Reese Kovat East Bernard, TX Thank you Camryn and Reese for sharing your French fries. I have to sneak away from my humans to get those but I’m pretty good at it. It’s getting harder and harder for we dogs to find begging opportunities these days because food places that allow dogs in are getting as rare as cats that come when you call them.

Stoopid cats!

Bubba and Chica

Well Bubba and Chica I’m sorry to hear that you don’t have any cats because that means you won’t ever get any catfood and catfood is almost as good as a hotdog. I got to spend last Saturday on the beach and met many new friends and then my humans took me to a house where they let me swim in the pool. It was a good day to be a dog. If you guys don’t have a pool where you can I like going to the Back Porch Bubba & Chica get in then tell your humans to take because they let me in and there is you to the HEB swimming pool OTB on a place with food right next door so humans September 14 and you can go swimming in eat there and a lot of them are from out of the pool. I figure that’s about the time that town and they are the easiest to beg food pool is going to close for the year so they from. I want to remind you humans that will have plenty of time to get all the dog dogs have been allowed in restaurants in hair out by the time the open it up next year.

Corpus Christi since last year when the nice My human says what we dogs leave behind humans on the city council passed a rule that in the pool won’t be nearly as bad as what all says dogs can go onto restaurants that have a those kids leave in there. The only bad thing patio. We have to stay seven feet away from is that they are letting humans in free but the kitchen but that’s okay. Humans can see they are charging dogs $3 each to get in. We hungry dog eyes from seven feet away. don’t have any pockets! Don’t those humans That rule also says a dog can be fed doggie know that? Stoopid humans! Sometimes I treats, doggie biscuits, and edible treats don’t know what humans are thinking. They including hotdogs while they are there. If walk around behind us with a plastic bag you see me in a restaurant please feed me to clean up our messes. We dogs don’t do a hotdog. I would ask for catfood too but I that for them. Who’s in charge here? I mean don’t think too many humans walk around really! Stoopid humans. with catfood in their pockets. Especially My charge for an autograph is one hotdog since cats aren’t allowed in restaurants. today or two on Tuesday. I’ll keep signing Stoopid cats! until you run out of hotdogs.

Just look for restaurants that have a sign I want to thank my new friend Brinn Perez that says “DOG FRIENDLY PATIO” and who came in to my office this week and be sure to bring some hotdogs in case they brought me a pizza box full of treats. She don’t have any on their menu. sure is a nice lady. I got real excited when I saw that pizza box because before Dr. Christi put me on my diet pizza bones were my favorite next to hotdogs. But the treats were only made of plastic so I couldn’t eat them but I can still chew on them. Thank you Brinn that sure was nice of you. Next time if you stash a real hotdog in there I’ll eat it before my humans can see it. Once I get my choppers on a hotdog there is no human alive quick enough to get it away Riley & the French Fry Feeding Girls from me.

Well, I have to stop writing now because my nose is getting sore from hitting the space bar. I hope my friends over at Seashore school will write me some letters now that they are back in school. If they do maybe one of them will slip in a hotdog. Put it in a box that says Riley P. Dog Humans Do Not Open.

Riley gets a present

I will thank you very much if you do that.

Island Moon

August 22, 2013

Stuff I Heard on the Island

by Dale Rankin

I was standing in line at a Stripes store OTB the other day and there was this mother in there with this little kid.

Every time the kid would whine about wanting a piece of sticky candy the mother would respond by adding it to the pile she already had in her hands. She had some gum, and some lollipops, some sugary pastry, and some gooey stuff I didn’t recognize ready for her kid to feast on once they got in the car.

Seems the kid couldn’t pick the candy up his own self because he had both hands clasped tightly around a 32-ounce big gulp cup full of his favorite brand of soft drink that is heavy enough for him to carry that his fingers are turning white. This kid was about three feet tall, I’m guessing he was about four or five years old and he’s got a Dunlop- you know like when your belly has done lopped over the top of your pants and is starting to get its shape from downward gravitational pull and headed for a place that we don’t really want to picture in our mind’s eye. It’s the kind of thing you normally see on twenty handicap golfers or guys at the VFW, or Mexican wrestlers wearing clown masks but this one is on a little kid. His mom had one too; a one pack that could have been a basketball.

When they get up to the counter the lady says, “And give me a double quick pick, two Lone Star scratch offs, a lotto with a cash option, two packs of Kool Menthol Light 100s in a soft pack, and a pack of Zig-Zag papers.”

She tried to pay for the whole pile with a Lone Star Card but the lotto tickets and rolling papers didn’t qualify so she started dumping change out of her purse onto the counter. I got to say I admired the Stripes clerk for the way she handled the whole episode. She patiently counted out the pennies and nickels without saying a word as the line behind me got longer and surlier.

Now I’m not saying I’m in favor of a Michael Bloomberg ban on giant soda drinks; it seems to me if the mother wants to drink those while she’s smoking her Kool Menthol Lights and counting on the lottery as her retirement plan that’s her business. But that four year old kid sucking down 1000 empty calories worth of sugar water just ain’t right. He needs an intervention and I don’t mean just switching to Diet drinks. I’m guessing that 1000 calories per day is about his recommended daily caloric intake for a kid that size and they should come from something other than sugar water.

My eighth grade physics tells me that one calorie is the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius and my ninth grade math tells me that kid is going to be bouncing off the doors of the car by the time he sloshes down that Big Gulp and my power of projection tells me that by the time that kid is five feet tall he’s also going to be five feet wide.

It just one more reason not to go OTB.

My Life vs Your Vacation A bumper sticker went up this week on the front door of The Flats in Port Aransas that says My Life vs Your Vacation. It reminded me that we are indeed living in a place where Uplanders spend their young lives working to get to on a permanent basis. We just took the short cut. It’s easy to take for granted that in ten minutes from our homes we can be on the beach or out into the Gulf in our boats. In not much more time we can head south to PINS and, with the right vehicle, be on a stretch of beach with nary a soul in sight in any direction. There are not very many places in the United States where you can say that.

With the heavy traffic we have seen this summer season which has been the heaviest I can remember, it’s easy to get caught up complaining about how hard it is to get around on the weekends. But on the bright side it means more tourist dollars for Island businesses and only hits hard on the weekends during three months of the year. After all, what happens on The Island leaves on Sunday.

There are many among us who lament that The Island has “been discovered” and worry that we may soon be overrun with OTBers who don’t leave on Sunday. But I still prefer to take the glass half full approach. Fretting about the coming change won’t change anything. The fact is we live in a great spot and more people want to be a part of it, I say embrace it and get on with life.

Our Lives Are Their Vacation.

Yet another reason not to go OTB.

Not much water We are contemplating a drive to the Hill Country this weekend and did some checking on water levels in the rivers and the news is not good. The Blanco in Wimberley is down to a trickle, the Comal in New Braunfels is the same.

Uel Jackson from Port A was up in Concan last week and said the Frio is so low that if you want to get wet you have to roll around in it but it’s still full of people.

The Guadalupe in New Braunfels is downstream from Canyon Lake so if they are letting water out under the dam, which they usually do on weekends, then it is floatable from the Horseshoe to Gruene but it’s likely going to be chock full of floaters taking advantage of that cool water from way down at the bottom of the lake.

The good thing about living on an Island is that no matter how low the tide gets there’s still water to be had.

One more reason to not go OTB.

History continued from A1 For Burton in 1909 it was not so simple, to drive a herd this size it would take a dozen or so cowhands. The nearest loading pens were the Caesar pens just north of Kingsville, a three day cattle drive away. A cook would be needed along with the chuck wagon and a horse wrangler for the remuda (extra horses).

The drive went smoothly, a day up the Island, then taking the cattle across the Laguna at Pita Island and two days across the King Ranch to the pens. Once at the corrals the cattle were loaded on an eighteen car train that was charted

by Patrick to take the animals to Laredo. Young Burton sent most of the hands, chuck wagon and horses back to Corpus. He and a couple of cowboys jumped on the train and rode the caboose to Laredo. Once there Burton arranged to sell the herd to Mexican buyers, with his job complete and money jangling in his pocket, he like so many young men before and after stayed to enjoy the charms of that border city until he received a telegram from the CC National Bank to come to work. Eight years had past, Burton had left the bank to follow in his family’s ranching footsteps as he and cousin Spohn left for the Island in those fateful days of August 1916.

Eye of the storm Corpus Christi had been fortunate to have been only dealt with only glancing blows from Hurricanes since its founding in eighty-eight years before. The worst of these storms was in August of 1880 where total damage was estimated at $15,000. Other parts of Texas

Young Burton Dunn in 1898 were not so lucky, Baghdad, Mexico and Clarksville, Texas in 1869, Indianola in 1886, Velasco in 1909 were all destroyed by storms. 8,000 souls were lost in Galveston in 1900 and another 275 killed by the 1915 storm. This streak of luck ended for Corpus as the 1916 Storm Number Six entered the Gulf making its way to the South Texas coast. Burton, Spohn and Sisto Del Marez had made their way to the Green Hill camp ten miles below Yarbrough Pass, ground zero for the Hurricanes landfall. On the morning of August 18th the storm struck the Island, with its path taking the eye through Kingsville, San Diego and Del Rio the next day.

The ‘16 storm was no slouch, ranked by NOAA as the third most intense storm to ever strike the Texas Coast in the last 160 years. In Corpus the paper reported the dead and missing victims of the storm including Burton and Spohn. Rescue parties were sent out; cousin Maxwell Dunne heading down Island and Patrick to the Head of the Island. Patrick arrived at the headquarters on the Packery to find that nothing remained of his twostory ranch headquarters, completely swept away by the storm’s fury. His anticipation and dread heightened to the fate of his only son and nephew as he surveyed the devastation of that killer storm.

Next time: aftermath.

The Green Hill Camp, destination of Burton, Spohn and Sixto in 1916

The storm’s

August 22, 2013

Island Moon

Angler’s Alley

A7

On the Rocks

By Jay Gardner

*399/mo

225 Ultra Retail: $68,161

Our Price: $53,995

Sea Hunt Rebate: - $1,000

Sale Price: $52,995 *190/mo

Triton 177 Retail: $29,082

Our Price: $ 25,995

Sea Hunt Rebate: - $1,000

-10 Year hull warranty -Yamaha digital gauges -Infinity bluetooth -Waterproof stereo w/4 speakers -Teleflex Seastar hydraulic steering -15-gal aerated livewell -Console storage (room for porta-potti)

-10 Year hull warranty -Teleflex Baystar hydraulic steering -Captain Helm Chairs -10-gal built-in console cooler -15-gal aerated livewell -Rear pop up jump seats -Swim platform

Sale Price: $24,995 Wake up the Summer

5yrs warranty or $2,000 dealer credit

10121 South Padre Island Drive M-F

Hours of Operation 8 - 5:30 • Sat 10 - 4

(361) 937-7800

www.gcmboats.com Mary Ann McShane, Realtor, GRI, SRES e-mail: malm335@sbcglobal.net Corpus Christi Realty Group Considering a move to the Island?

Let me help you find your piece of Paradise - waterfront or interior homes, condos, townhouses, lots Considering selling your Island Property?

Call me for a free consultation to obtain the current market value along with tips to make your property the one buyers will put on their “must see” list

While the Chinese calendar says it’s the year of the snake, I would beg to differ. On the beach, its’ been the season of the Tiger! Of course I’m referring to the tiger shark, of which several large ones have been caught recently. Last edition of the Moon had one that was caught near Packery, and meanwhile on Bob Hall Pier and down the Seashore, there were 5 others caught, with one lucky angler landing two in one day!

One of those anglers was Travis Carpenter of Georgetown, who caught his very first shark from the beach and it was a tiger! Talk about beginners luck!

Travis is kin to Islanders Brad and Beth, who were there on the beach to help him land the large female beauty.

Travis had gotten several other runs before finally sinking a hook in this one, and fighting it for approximately an hour. He mentioned that “If you ever fight, land, and release a 10 foot long tiger shark with a 50” girth in neck deep water, you will never be the same.” I’d have to agree with you Travis, experiences of that caliber likely leave an indelible mark. We’ll see Travis back on the sand soon, I’m sure. Congrats!

Bolt Cutting I’d like to take a short opportunity here to mention to everyone that goes down the beach, whether you fish for sharks or not. You need to have a pair of bolt cutters along for the ride when you head down. Invariably, someone hooks a shark deep (not that Travis’s tiger was, they said the hook popped right out) and they don’t have the means to cut the cable or very heavy mono. I’ve noticed this on several reports with tigers lately, that its only when the fish is being landed is when folks start asking for pliers, tags, etc. During the fight someone should be getting that stuff together and ready.

The idea is to minimize both the damage to the shark from hook removal, and shorten the time that these sharks are on the sand.

Frio Run

stream while sitting underneath hundreds-ofyears-old bald cypress trees with my toes in the cold, clear water. Make sure to include a yearly trip to the hill country, its always a great time.

On the Rocks I can’t tell if we’re hitting the crescendo of

summer, or if we’re going to get a real Indian summer for once. I sure hope so. School is starting back up, and none too soon either. The beach has been crowded, as well as my beloved Packery Jetties. The rocks have been a very busy location these past few weeks, and I’m not sure where these people are from. I asked a few yesterday, as I was frustrated by not being able to get a cast in edge-ways. A few were from Port A (go fish your own jetties!) and a few others were from San Antonio on their last hurrah before school starts. Between school, and the early white-wing dove season this year, we’re looking forward to a very peaceful, quiet fall around the Island.

Another thing I noticed was the amount of litter all over the beach and rocks. I picked up a few wrappers and water bottles, but I think we need some more code enforcement out there. I also haven’t seen a parking sticker enforcer out there all summer, despite reports that number of tickets have gone up. Maybe I’m just lucky. I feel like pushing it again today, so say hi when you see me on the rocks.

Speaking of getting ready, I am more than ready to get on the sand myself! However, it won’t be this weekend, as we are headed up to our yearly pilgrimage to the Frio river. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous this weekend, and I always look forward to staging up along the river with some shade, a radio, and my fly rod.

It’s very peaceful listening to the gurgling of the

3225 Nassau 13941 Jacktar Flour Bluff

Padre Island

!

ED C DU RE

Island Office (361) 215-8629 Fisherman’s dream house!

Well maintained three bedLots of decks overlooking room, two bathroom with water. Covered parking in the double garage and enclosed front and a boat lift & dock porch, split bedrooms, easy installed in 2011 and rated for maintenance yard, great 4500 lbs. New roof installed island home. Access to Feb. 2013. “turn key”. boat ramp & playground.

Offered for $274,500 Offered for $199,900

Amanda Clark Broker Associate 361-739-3225 amanda@whittenrealestate.com

A 8

STATE

Island Moon

2nd Annual Aquafest

Over the past several months or so I have been telling you about the new bills which have been signed in to law. As a reminder the office of the Governor determined the final outcome of certain bills which had managed to pass out of both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate during the Regular Session of the 83rd Texas Legislature. During the twenty days following the end of a regular session, the Governor of Texas has the ability to sign bills in to law, pass them in to law without a signature or to veto them. It is during these twenty days that members of the Texas House and Texas Senate find out if the bills they worked on during the session will become law or not.

The 83rd Texas Legislature succeeded in sending a little over fourteen hundred bills to the Governor. In addition to these bills House Concurrent Resolutions (HCR) and Senate Concurrent Resolutions (SCR) were also sent to the Governor for signature. Concurrent resolutions are important because they allow for the state to officially recognize people, places, and things throughout the State of Texas, make official statements for the state, as well as outline specific ideas and concepts to be studied by the Texas Legislature in between sessions.

Here are some of those Concurrent resolutions which were signed by the Governor: • HCR 80 - Requesting the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives to create a joint interim committee to study the effects on international trade of wait times at points of entry between the United States and Mexico.

• HCR 81 - Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the agreement between the State of Texas and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

• HCR 98 - Designating May 2013 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in Texas.

• HCR 100 - Commending retired Texas Supreme Court chief justice Jack Pope for his service and congratulating him on his 100th birthday.

• HCR 104 - Encouraging school districts to adopt policies that promote the use of technology and technological devices in classrooms.

• HCR 111 - Designating April as Texas Personal Financial Literacy Month for a 10-year period beginning in 2013.

• SCR 27 - Urging Congress to reauthorize Section 5056 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 and to appropriate sufficient funds for the Rio Grande Environmental Management Program.

• SCR 28 - Designating the first Tuesday in March as Texas Assisted Living Awareness Day for a 10-year period beginning in 2013.

I was proud and honored to be the author of HCRs 82 and 89. These studies are important to not only South Texas but to the State of Texas as a whole.

I invite you to examine the complete list outlining the bills and resolutions signed, passed in to law without signature or vetoed by going to www.governor.state.tx.us and looking under the news section pertaining to the Legislature.

• HCR 82 - Requesting the creation of a joint interim committee to study education policy as it relates to developing a skilled workforce.

If you have questions regarding any of the information 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, 361-949-4603).

• HCR 89 - Requesting the creation of a joint interim committee to study recruiting firearms and ammunition manufacturers to Texas.

Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.

Organizers from the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor are expecting another successful year at their main fundraiser event, AquaFest that will now expand to a two-day family-geared event on Labor Day weekend. The festival will take place in front of the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor and is set for Saturday, August 31st from 10am to 6pm and Sunday, September 1st from noon to 6 p.m.

Ducky Regatta, ShishkaBall, TP Toss and Giant Jenga on both days of the festival.

AquaFest is also proud to announce a lineup of entertainment, featuring the Scott Taylor Band, an Aqua Puppet Show and other live bands, including- Tripp Hunt, Big C Band, Mark Williams Band, and much more. The festival will also have food and drink vendors, as well as a variety of booths for some unique shopping.

“AquaFest will feature dozens of activities this year for the whole family and is mainly geared to entertain children, so we encourage parents to load the kids up for an affordable experience,” said Dana Daniel, Chairperson of AquaFest and Board of Directors Member for the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor. “This event is crucial to help the Aquarium continue with daily operations, add new exhibits and to maintain a free admission to the Aquarium year-round. We want families to know they are making a difference by attending AquaFest.”

If guests have never made it to the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor for a tour, they will get the opportunity to take a break from the sun and stroll through the Aquarium’s exhibits featuring hundreds of creatures from the sea. Don’t miss the Birthday Celebration for the Aquarium’s most famous and prized Honeycomb Morey eel, Marley on Saturday at 2pm inside the Aquarium.

Marley was a gift to the Aquarium from a local Rockport resident and he is the only specimen inside the Aquarium that is not of the native bay waters. He’s known to show-off when guests are around and loves the company!

Guests of AquaFest will be in for a real treat with live water demos and educational exhibits from the United States Coast Guard, TAMUCC and Texas Parks & Wildlife. Children can try their luck at the Kid Fish and Ping Pong Toss.

The weekend will also offer Wheel of Fortune, face painting and a lollipop tree.

Saturday at 9:00am, gear up for the Gnarly Marley 5K Run and 2 Mile Walk. The first 100 participants will receive a free t-shirt and free admission to AquaFest. The race will kick-off at the Aquarium and is $20 each.

The festival will also offer a dunking booth, featuring Mayor C.J. Wax with the City of Rockport, Mayor Jimmy Kendrix from Town of Fulton, Tommy Moore with the Navigation District and the local Sharks Swim Team.

The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor would like to give a special thank you to their sponsors – Aransas County, the Navigation District, City of Rockport, City of Fulton, Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Corpus Christi Electric, H-E-B, Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning, NavyArmy Federal Credit Union, Jean & Dr. Bob James, Penny Pinchers and Carroll’s Barber Shop.

Not only will there be a raffle for a fishing trip, Aquafest boasts a long list of items that include framed art, jewelry, a night in Rockport and dinner for two, an airboat tour, shopping spree and a membership to the USS Lexington on the Bay. The silent auction will feature a wide variety of items for pet lovers and Texas A&M University fans, as well as artwork, gift baskets, home décor , health and beauty itemsjust to name a few that was all donated by the downtown merchants of Rockport.

Admission to AquaFest is $2 each person, per day. Children ages 2 & under are free. Enjoy free parking at the festival all weekend. For more information about AquaFest and the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor, visit www. rockportaquarium.com or call (361) 727-0016.

Find out more details and get the latest news on AquaFest by visiting www.facebook.com/ RockportAquarium.

Families with a competitive side may also try their skills against one another at the Rubber

Police Blotter

• HCR 90 - Designating March 2013 as Women’s History Month.

DWI Statistics

Talya & Hannah Meet Talya & Hannah! These two baby girls are 3 1/2 months old. They are a Catahoula/Mastiff mix, so they still have some growing to do and will most likely be large dogs. We love all of our babies to be indoor dogs, even our large ones. These girls get along with all dogs/puppies...are curious yet friendly with cats/kittens...and love children! They are both sweet as can be and love to snuggle and give kisses. We rescued their very pregnant momma months ago from a street on the Island where we assume someone dumped her...no one ever claimed their beautiful momma, Talia. Talia has a family on the island who is very interested in adopting her and we are awaiting approval from their landlords. Talya and Hannah’s sister and brother have already gone to their forever homes, one of them has an island home...Talya and Hannah want and deserve their forever home! Talya and Hannah are both partially sponsored, their reduced adoption fee is $75 each and that includes their spay and all rounds of shots. If you would love one (or both) forever, please email us at info@guardiansrescue.org or call 361-510-5980. Additional photos of Talya & Hannah (from birth through present) can be found on Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/guardiansrescue -- go to ‘Photos’ and select ‘Albums’, there you will see the album titled ‘Talia & Babies’.

Hannah

August 22, 2013

Fin-tabulous Family-Fun on Labor Day Weekend

Resolutions by the House and Senate

By Todd Hunter, District 32

Talya

Aug. 15, 2013

Same time 2012

Total in 2012

DWI & DUI Arrest 704

628 (UP 12%)

1036

DWI Arrests Last 3 Months Aug. (thru 8/15)

July 2013

June 2013

85

111

47

2013 DWI Stats 692

DWI Arrest as of Aug. 15, 2013

12

DUI Arrest as of Aug. 15, 2013

151

Suspects consented to gave a sample of their breath

298

Suspects consented to gave a sample of their blood

225 Suspects refused to give a sample of breath or blood and a search warrant was obtained

15

Suspects refused to give consent of breath or blood and a mandatory blood draw was required

3 Suspects refused both blood and breath request, and no evidence was obtained.

692 cases filed and in 689 cases a sample of breath or blood was obtained. In 2 cases a judge was not available to sign a warrant and in 1 case the suspect escaped before a sample was obtained.

81

Felony DWI cases. (50 for DWI with two or more prior convictions; 19 for intoxicated assault; 10 DWI Child; 2 intoxicated manslaughter)

.17

Average Breath /Blood results from suspects

261

DWI arrest were involved in Traffic Crashes

$14 man

Under the Bridge Serving South Texas Seafood for Over 30 Years Open Daily 11:00 - 10:00 AlsoScoopy’s Veranda With Sweet Treats, Soups, Salads & Sandwiches

Snoopy’s Scoopy’s

(361) 949-8815 (361) 949-7810

13313 S. Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78418

The Island Moon T-Shirts The Island Looks So Good On You!

Get yours for only $10.95 plus shipping and handling. Shirts come in grey or white short sleeve T-Shirts sizes L. XL and XXL. Tank Tops come in Aqua and White in sizes Medium and Large.

To order by phone, call 361949-7700. To order by mail

Only

$

10.95

please send your checks made payable to: J. Park The Island Moon, 14493 S.P.I.D., PMB 220, Corpus Christi, Tx 78418.

A 25-year-old man was arrested Tuesday morning for shoplifting at 1250 Flour Bluff Drive. Corpus Christi Police arrested a 25-year-old man for theft after he attempted to steal beer and soda valued at about $14 dollars.

His gold 2002 Infiniti I35 was impounded.

Boot scooter A Corpus Christi Police Officer was parked in the parking lot of 1250 Flour Bluff Drive at 4:30am Wednesday morning and flagged down by a manager about a theft possibly in progress inside of the store. The Officer contacted 19 year old man and found that he had left two pairs of his shoes in the footwear section. He had been confronted by an employee while walking around in the store in a pair of boots and had no stolen items in his possession at the time of contact. At the manager’s request, the man was given a criminal trespass warning and escorted off the property. The Officer worked on paperwork and was flagged down shortly thereafter and told that the man was back in the store and asking people for rides. The Officer went inside and located the man hiding by the carts in the entrance. He was given a ride to the city detention center and asked nicely not to return to the store.

15800 SPID7:15 p.m. August 18 Assault with a deadly weapon 14100 block Coquina Bay 8:30 a.m.

August 13 Burglary of a habitation 15400 block Dyna 6:11 p.m. August 18 Credit card abuse 15300 block Leeward 10 a.m. August 14 Theft under $50 15200 block Windward 11:14 p.m. August 16 Assault with injury 15300 block SPID August 16 10:39 a.m.

Gasoline theft 13800 block Jolly Roger 9 p.m. August 15 Reckless damage or destruction 13500 block King Phillip Ct. 1:30 a.m.

August 18 Assault with injury 13900 block Skysail 7 p.m. August 13 Burglary of vehicle 14700 block SPID 11:06 a.m. August 18 Burglary of a vehicle 14400 block SH 361 2:03 p.m. August 14 Theft $500-$1500 14500 block SPID August 17 11:52 a.m.

August 17 Theft of vehicle/assault

Police Calls

14300 block SPID 3:30 p.m. August 15 Criminal mischief $500-$1500

Bob Hall Pier 2:30 a.m. August 31 Sexual assault/male victim

Aquarius and SPID 4:13 p.m. August 15 Theft $20,000-$100,000

Island Rotarians Donate School Supplies to Timon’s Padre Island Rotarians ready to hand out backpacks and school supplies to Timon’s kiddos, August 20. From left, President Deb Loven, Steve Pituch, Sheila Downs, Martha Wild, Kae Berry, Charlie Eskridge and Mary Spolans.

Rotarians funded the project, helping 100 underprivledged children from FBISD begin school with grade appropriate supplies.

This is the twelfth year that Timon’s has helped the kids.

Photo by Steven Pituch

August 22, 2013

Island Moon

Backwater Adventures

A9

Sponsored by Waypoint Marine

Over or Under?

By Joey Farah Farah’s Fishing Adventures

long casts and cranking that than with mono because of the spoon over the grass flats. no stretch qualities. I fish a mono The redfish are schooling line with very heavy drag, this up and are aggressive. Head allows me to keep control of into ROY’S BAIT AND the fish by turning its head and TACKLE, everyone there is preventing the fish from shaking extremely helpful. Let them its head and throwing the hook. know I sent you in to get a In just presentation alone we see balanced rod and reel combo, that lures fished with braid swim give them your price budget and move with hard angles and and they will make sure you Another amazing trip with Island res. Leo quick bursts. This is not natural are ready to go. The same set Clien and family. Lots of trout between 24 in cold weather conditions, mono up is perfect for the fishing of will allow some line stretch and 28 inches. live piggy perch and croaker, creating natural curved and soft with commercial charters I the surface by the sensitivity of your equipment. movements. The biggest reason I bump the line strength up a For some good fishing and casting classes come don’t spool up braid on my bait join the fun this month. I left two to three days bit. casting rods is that the line cuts Perfectly balanced spinning every week open in Sept.

Casting Setups easily into the spool and will stop reels make long precise casts Use both types and Oct. to allow me to Bait Casting reels use the force of a cast to spin a cast very quickly. I have tried to big fish. get some time in for Youth The answer small and large diameter line, the spool of line as your bait sails aloft. At times Football and Hunting so I to the choice it can be difficult to throw these reels without and many different brands. The one thing that can fill in the blanks here between which is easy, have both. Use keeps it from getting stuck in the spool is light the spool of line backlashing into a bird’s nest and there with last minute your selection to match your style, of tangled line. With the better mechanics casting, light drag settings, light action rods. fishermen. With the schools techniques, and attitude. Having both None of these are what I want when I have inside one of these reels it is much easier to be of big reds hunting the flats will allow anglers to fish longer and trophy fish hooked up. This efficient now than in years past. it is the right time to get out harder by switching muscle groups is why I prefer bait casters The magnetic forces around the in the afternoons for some and hands.

Whatever your choice is for lures spooled with 12 to spool drag on magnets to aid great drifting sessions. remember to find what works for you 15lb mono, but that’s me. the fishermen to finely tune the The trout are still hitting and fine tune your fishing skills on reel for experience, line class, hard on live bait and we every trip. Experiment with different Spinning reels weight of bait, and other field are coming in with some rod actions, lengths, and lines these situations. I prefer to use casting The spinning reel is unreal stringers of fish. are the fine adjustments that build us setups when fishing lures. everyone’s friend, it is hard Check them out and GET to become better anglers. The only to mess up, casts a mile, and BIT ON FACEBOOK@ The long days of endless hours thing that separates us and the fish can use heavy or light casting on the rod test my tendons and in the undersea world is the rod and My personal casting rod J O E Y F A R A H ’ S weights. I like spinning reels joints. The bait casting style reel we hold. Good tackle can open WATERLOO and CURADO FISHING!! for fishing with bait or very puts less stress on my elbows your mind to what is going on under for big trout. light lures. The spool is and shoulders. The “on top” stationary so casting tangles position of the reel also keeps do not happen much. The it above the water much easier. tangles you do get are from The side of most casting reels line not being laid on the have pins or weights that you can adjust evenly to make for Gilbert an his boy on one last spool evenly, or it getting looped up. The rod is placed smooth casts. Set the reel with fishing trip before school. in the angler’s strong arm or three out, then two, and even dominant hand. The large down to one. Practice form until you can cast crank allows one to smoothly reel with larger the reel without padding the spool with your finger except for just a bit. The fine adjustment circles on the odd hand. Spinning reels are easy $ on the other side can be adjusted in the field to to learn and very productive.

In fishing every angler has their personal preference on everything, these are the most personal touches we love most about our favorite pastime. The one choice that is closest to HAND is whether to use spinning or casting tackle. Spinning tackle are the reels that hang under the pole and have an exposed reel spool.

Casting equipment mounts a fishing reel on top of the pole and spins the spool to take off line.

Beyond the personal likes and dislikes there are a few advantages and disadvantages of each along different types of fishing techniques.

Let’s look at a little of both so that you can get the most out of each cast.

slow the reel down on cast if you are throwing against the wind or switching bait weights.

I like to throw monofilament on my bait casters and keep 15lb clear line on during lure fishing.

Colored line may help anglers using bait keep from getting tangled up and let them see the bite on the line. The heavier line choice above 10 or 12lb line prevents backlashes on hard casts, and allows me to pick out tangles without kinking the line or giving the line “memory” of the tangles or spool curve. Many anglers will laugh at me for sticking to the old monofilament but MANY times I have seen fish that were finicky or spooked shy away from the braided line poles. They feel you just as well as you can feel them on the end of the line. When anglers are spooled up with braided line many times we pull the bait away too soon, feeling the fish actually suck the bait up and setting the hook too soon.

With braided line your drag must be set lighter

When sight casting to redfish I like a shorter lightweight spinner to flip lightweight lures easily. When I am fishing with bait I like a 7 or 7’6” ft. rod with a med-heavy action. With the longer spinning rods we can make supper long casts, cast farther in light winds, and switch bait weights without adjusting the break system. I do like the braided line on spinning reels for a few reasons. The ultra-thin diameter of the braided line allows fishermen to spool up with line diameters from 6 to 12lb test line and have the strength to tackle redfish to snapper. Line capacity also increases with the switch to braid over mono.

Pro17 Skiff 60 HP

$

16,995

1500

Rebate Boat, Motor & Trailer

Now Only

$

Award Winning Hull Design

For fishing big gold spoons in the flats right now the deadliest weapon is a 7’6” Waterloo rod with a 2 or 3000 series pen spinning reel, spooled with 6 pound diameter braided SUFFIX line.

You should put a good long fluorocarbon leader of 25lb test. Get a quality snap swivel to keep out line twist and cover a lot of water making

15,495.00

NEW!

JOHNNY D’S •

Johnny Ds Finer Dining on the island

Corpus Christi Dealer

Sunday Brunch Menu Served 11:00am-2:00pm Last Seating at 1:30

The Island’s only bloody Mary bar

Fishing Barge 20

Dinner

Served nightly Tuesday thru Saturday 4:30pm-9:30pm

Factory Direct Price

Boat, Motor & Trailer

Wine Down Tuesday All Wine 1/2 Price

BRUNCH MENU SERVED 11:00AM-2:00PM View our full menu onSUNDAY our website or Google www.letseat.at/johnnydsresturant SellingBAR Pontoon Boat Wednesday Locals Night Come See What’s Cooking!

THE ISLAND’S ONLY BLOODY#1MARY Call for reservations at 361-949-2500 Located 15605 SPID on the Island

$

Now Only

20,995.00

All Packages Include Boat, Motor, Trailer

DINNER SERVED NIGHTLY TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY

Catering Available www.letseat.at/johnnydsrestaurant

4:30PM-9:30PM

HAPPY HOUR BEGINNING AT 4:30PM CUSTOM MENUS FOR PRIVATE PARTIES INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING AVAILABLE FOR 15 OR MORE (WEATHER PERMITTING)

Island CALL FOR RESERVATIONS AT 361-949-2500

Creations

Remodeling

Total Renovation & Remodels, Outdoor Kitchens & Spas, Additions, Kitchen & Bathroom Upgrades, Sunporches, Replacement of Windows and Doors, Roofing, Painting & Stucco

LOCATED 15605 SPID ON THE ISLAND

Landscaping

Design work, Yard Maintenance, Decks, Pergolas, WWWLETSEAT.AT/JOHNNYDSRESTAURANT Installation of Rock, Grass, Plants, Trees, Walkways, Paths, Tree Trimming, Insured

Member, Padre Island Business Association Member, Builders Association, Corpus Christi

960-0327

Container Planting, Vacant Lot Mowing & Shade Covers. All Kinds of Fencing, Pressure Washing & Deck Staining & Sealing

Concrete

Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks, Patio Overlays, Decorative Stamping & Staining, Decks, Bulkheads, Grouted Stone Walls & Patios, Decorative Stone Paver Driveways & Patios

Owned & Operated by Island Residents David & Katherine Pierce References Available Upon Request Commercial & Residential

Doing Everything a Home or Business Needs

A 10

Island Moon

August 22, 2013