On the Rocks A6
Farah's Fishing A7
Final 2014 Turtle Release A9
Meet the New Ref! A8
Free
What Happens on The Island… Leaves on Sunday
Therapy Dogs A12
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The Island Moon
Issue 538
August 7, 2014 The voice of The Island since 1996
Island Stylin'
Around The Island By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com
It’s been nothing but positive news here on our little sandbar this week. The Sargassum onslaught on our beaches has slowed to a near stop, what passes for a cool front in the midst of a South Texas summer rolled through and gave us a bit of a respite from the withering heat, the wind has been such that boaters have been able to get well offshore for some blue water angling. A threat of rain slowed down the tourist invasion a bit last weekend but as the last free week before the start of school rolled around last Monday the uplanders rolled OTB for one last Lobster Tan before scholarly duties intervene.
The number of stray dogs dumped on The Island has been increasing in the past few months stretching the pool of volunteers who rescue them and the amount of space in foster homes to keep them until a long-term home can be found. We spoke to Belinda Chambers, Founder of Guardians Rescue which rescues, cares for, and adopts out stray dogs and cats on The Island.
(Good) Reefing madness
Fishing madness
Shark Week! More on A4 It’s been a strange week on the fishing front. First, a 900-pound Tiger Shark dragged a fisherman all the way from Port A to Bob Hall Pier before being landed, then an angler in Port Aransas caught what is described as a hybrid between a Pompano and a Gafftop, then a Swordfish was caught in the surf, and finally a fish launched itself into the air and ended up on the ferry in Port A. We’re not sure if it’s the fish or the fishermen who have gone crazy but it makes us wonder what’s in the water.
Island Moon Newspaper ArtWalk Each week we get several calls from vendors inquiring about the next Island Moon Newspaper ArkWalk and now we have some news. We began the market at the parking lot on the seawall but that location is no longer available and we have been looking for a permanent spot and it looks like we have found one; on Saturday, October 25, the market will move, to the Schlitterbahn waterpark parking lot where, hopefully, it will remain for the foreseeable future. Interested vendors can contact us here or contact Jordan at the park at Jgreer@schlitterbahn.com. It’s possible we may also have an event in August but for now, the next ArtWalk will be in October.
Coming Up The Litter Critter will make an appearance this Saturday at the Whitecap Wastewater Treatment Plant at the end of Whitecap. The refuse eating machine makes two monthly Island appearances on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. hauling off everything from tree limbs to patio furniture to “That thing” that your crazy cousin gave you for Christmas that’s been taking up space in your closet. Saturday is your chance to get rid of it without hurting anyone’s feelings. Don’t forget that Paddle for Parkinson’s is coming up at the end of this month so it’s time to start digging in the pile of stuff under your deck looking for kayak paddles. We’ll have more from Mona as we get closer. In the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.
Number of Stray Dogs Increasing on The Island Where are they coming from and what can be done to help them?
So beach driving is fair, gas prices can’t make up their mind, and Hurricane Season is holding steady; so far so good. We got some good news this week from Mike Hurst over at SEA that the much anticipated arrival of a ship for the artificial reef is finally coming down the homestretch. A move by the Feds over the past several years has pretty much obliterated offshore rigs. There are still plenty of them near the shoreline but once you reach blue water it’s a thirty mile trek to find a good fishing rig. The Nearshore Reef, a 160-acre site in 73 feet of water, is a welcome addition and the ship will be good for diving, especially late in the summer when the visibility is good.
Weekly
Photo by Miles Merwin
Rugby Island
Rugby Tournament On the Beach This Saturday The Dirty Birds will represent The Island
By Mary Craft The Corpus Christi Rugby Club hosts an annual 7’s By The Sea Tournament every summer with participants from across the country and last year they even had one from Canada. The Island will be represented at the event for the first time with the Dirty Birds Team sponsored by The Pelican Lounge owner and team player Irfan Kardas. The 7’s tournament is made up of 7 player teams instead of 15 and 7 minute halves instead of 40. The winner is determined by double elimination. At least 12 teams will participate Saturday, August 9th starting at 10 am on Ellis Beach near Marker 213 between the seawall and the jetty.
Rugby was first played in the early 1800s and our football was an offspring of it about 40 years later. Similarity between the sports has grown further apart over the years. One major difference is there is no equipment involved in rugby so it is easy for a group to get together and play and they can play anywhere even on a beach! So come out and root for our Island
“This will help to revive our local diving industry which has been devastated by the removal of old rigs in blue offshore water,” said Mike Hurst, the project director for the Saltwater-fisheries Enhancement Association (SEA). “This site will make great diving, especially in late summer.”
Last week Walter Marine in Orange Beach, Alabama, which owns the ship, was awarded a contract to deliver and sink it in 73 feet of water at the reef site. The Kinta S was built in Japan in 1976, and measures 40 feet from the keel to the top of the wheelhouse, it is 33 feet wide. The reef is in state waters. The ship is 80% prepared as an artificial reef. All wood, insulation, wiring, and hydrocarbons have been removed.
team and one of the players many of you will recognize out on the field is Scuttlebutt’s premier oyster shucker Drew Hicks. See ya’ there! And remember.... #DirtyBirdIsThe Word.
The 160-acre artificial reef, two years in the planning, is a partnership between the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, SEA, It is part of the Near Shore Reefing Program coordinated by the state to enhance fishing and diving opportunities close to shore within state waters.
44-Years Ago This Week Celia Slammed into the Coastal Bend
The forecasters said she would come in with a whimper, making a last minute turn to the north just grazing the Coastal Bend on her western edge, so many people decided to play chicken with her and ride it out at home. But as she approached the shore she changed her mind and didn’t turn north morphing into what today would be called a Category 3 storm packing winds up to 180 mph and boring in on the eastern edge of Corpus Christi Bay. This week marks the 44th anniversary of Hurricane Celia's deadly landfall near Port Aransas. On the evening of August 3rd, 1970, the storm roared into the Coastal bend as the eye crossed the coast just north of Corpus Christi Bay spawning eight tornadoes. Winds gusts between 150-180 miles per hour impacted Corpus Christi, Robstown and Mathis. Celia caused 15 deaths in South
Texas and 466 injuries. In Corpus Christi, 70 percent of the homes suffered damage. The height of the wind velocity will never be known as the wind gauge was blown from the pole along with the tower from the last radio station transmitting which left the area out of touch with the rest of the world. In all 8,950 homes were destroyed, 13,850 homes suffered major damage, and 41,800 homes had minor damage. More than 3,000 power poles were blown down across the area. The Coastal Bend sustained more than $450 million in damage to homes and businesses. In Corpus Christi, 70 percent of residences suffered
Of course we can't be certain exactly where they're coming from. I doubt that a puppy mill would be the source as the dogs that are being found are, for the most part, mixed-breeds. Most are adults, although recently there were at least two Pit Bull puppies that were dumped and rescued. We searched for other siblings to no avail, so if there were more they likely passed away. Some are undoubtedly being left behind when people move away from the Island. We have had several instances where we have found that to be the case.
Dogs continued on A14
Ready…Set…. It’s GO Time for School Shopping By Erica Rose Bertero
A little Island History
By Dale Rankin
I have definitely seen an increase in dumped dogs in the last year, and even more so in the last couple of months. It is basically a weekly occurrence to have at least one that has been dumped on the Island. Some weeks we have seen four or five dumped animals. Island Moon – Do you know where they are coming from?
Reef Ship Due by Labor Day A 155 foot long coastal freighter is expected to be submerged at the Corpus Christi Neashore Reef Site ten miles off Packery Channel and eleven miles off Port Aransas by Labor Day, according to the person in charge of the project.
Island Moon – It seems like there are more dogs being abandoned on The Island than ever before.
History continued on A4
beachgalbare@gmail.com It is early August – so you know what that means! It is time for the adventure of shopping for all that is needed for back-to-school! You might be shopping for 1, 2, 3 or more (bless your soul if you have 3+)….new clothes, uniforms, shoes, lunchboxes, backpacks, and school supplies are on the list. All you have to do now is venture out into the wild, into the thick of it!
Avoid Tax Free Weekend With a 14 year old entering into Flour Bluff High School on August 25th, and a 12 and 10 year old going back to Corpus Christi Montessori School on August 14th, I knew it was time to get my head in the game. The first step I take is to find out when the tax-free weekend is scheduled during the month of August – and I AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE! Shopping during tax-free weekend is like shopping on Black Friday or Christmas Eve – and I’m just not one for those kinds of crowds. I will gladly pay the tax on clothes on school supplies to avoid the hordes of crying babies and fed up parents. It sounds funny coming from a mom of 3, but hey! I put in my time during the infant and toddler years, and now I get to enjoy the teen and pre-teen years, especially when it comes time to shop. I guess I’m pretty lucky with three kids who are willing to do what needs to get done. If you find yourself in this boat, take advantage of it and make plans.
Shopping continued on A14
A2
August 7, 2014
Island Moon
The Travelling Moon Gets Around
Hoping to hit the big Jackpot, Gloria Lieke And Granddaughter Rylee, took the Island Moon to Deadwood S.D.
Traveling Moon Hits the rigs and reefs with Jerry Watkins. Photo by Sharon Watkins.
Frog’s Pool Service CONSTRUCTION, SERVICE AND REPAIR
We moved to Port A from the Dallas area 2 years ago and truly enjoy reading the Moon! We especially love seeing the different places readers travel to. I never thought that I would be sending in a picture ! Here's a shot of my husband Chris & I taken aboard the Kenai Star out of Whittier Alaska on July 14, 2014 . We saw the Beloit and Blackstone Glaciers in Prince William Sound, as well as sea otters, seals and a humpback whale. This was one of the adventures we had while visiting our daughter Alex in nearby Cooper Landing, AK. The Moon traveled a long way from home! Tina Muckey Port Aransas, TX
The Mystery Machine showed up in Port A. It's a mystery. Photo by Ronnie Narmour
361-876-9148 Ofce Mark Duncan Jaime Berrones Tired of paying for a pool service that 361-876-9147 charges you Director of Sales & Service Owner
once for the cleaning and again for chemicals? Why www.frogspoolservice.com go through the checkout line twice. At Frog’s Pool CONSTRUCTION, SERVICE AND REPAIR Service, all chemicals are included. A full service company providing you with professional pool cleaning and repairs at one low monthly rate. CALL THE FROG. 361.876.9148.
Frog’s Pool Service
361-876-9148 Ofce Jaime Berrones Director of Sales & Service
Mark Duncan
www.frogspoolservice.com
361-876-9147 Owner
Steve Moody Senior Vice President
500 North Water Street, Suite 100 | Corpus Christi, TX NMLS# 613901 | 361-887-8771 | ProsperityBankUSA.com Member FDIC
August 7, 2014
Letters to the Editor
Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder
To the Residents of Upper Padre Island
We recently purchased a home on a canal on The Island. We love it here. We chose to live here because of the water and the beach. Now that we are settling in to "Island Life" and are learning about how everything works (POA, City Council) we started to have some questions about the community. We are new here and maybe we are just uninformed so we would like to know why The Island is part of Corpus Christi and is not an incorporated separate city? Our numbers may be off but I believe we read that we provide approximately 16% of the money in the Corpus Christi budget (through our taxes) yet The Island receives about 1.5% back from Corpus Christi. Wow...REALLY? If we have this figured correctly, it would seem logical to keep our tax money here to make improvements to our own community.
Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Devorah Fox Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Chad Peters Todd Hunter
The process of incorporating, in Texas, is that once a community reaches 500 people they can vote to become a municipality/city. In the case of The Island it was brought into the City of Corpus Christi through a series of annexations beginning in the late 1970s and ending finally in the late 1990s when the cities of Port Aransas and Corpus Christi raced to annex the land between Padre Island and Port Aransas with the ultimate finish line being the current city limits just north of Port Royal.
Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)
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
Where to Find The Island Moon Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant
Sandpiper Condos WB Liquors Port A Arts
Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A
North Padre
A Mano
All Stripes Stores
Coffee Waves
CVS
Moby Dicks
Whataburger
Spanky’sLiquor
Doc’s Restaurant
IGA Grocery Store
Isle Mail N More
Carter Pharmacy
Island Italian
San Juan’s Taqueria
Ace Hardware
Wash Board Laundry Mat
Texas Star (Shell)
Pioneer RV Park
Port A Parks and Rec Public Library
Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant Subway And all Moon retail advertisers
Back Porch
WB Liquor
Shorty’s Place
Flour Bluff
Giggity’s
H.E.B.
Stripes @ Cotter & Station
Liquid Town
Port A Glass Studio
The matter was voted on and both proposals passed ; Flour Bluff citizens voted to form their own city and the voters of Corpus Christi voted to annex them on the same ballot. Under state law the vote by Corpus Christi took precedent over the Flour Bluff vote and the area became part of Corpus Christi. Citizens of Flour Bluff sued and the case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. The basis of the suit was that under thenexisting state law 129 citizens of the area to be annexed, Flour Bluff, had to sign the petition to put the matter on the ballot; however, the court found that only 29 of the signatures were valid and in fact the matter of annexing Flour Bluff into Corpus Christi should never have been on the ballot in the first place. But, the court ruled, that in the ensuing years between the vote and the Supreme Court decision Flour Bluff residents had accepted services from the City of Corpus Christi and therefore, de facto, had been annexed. With this ruling the fate of The Island was sealed, it was just a matter of time. An interesting side note; 53 years after being annexed and in clear violation of the annexation agreement in which full city services were to be extended to Flour Bluff within ten years
Joey Crawford They say he's one of the most disliked official's, yet I received this photo today of Joey Crawford, NBA Official, who had some really nice things to say about the story I wrote about his dad (Shag Crawford) in my first book, In the Company of Greatness.
Jesse’s Liquor
Duckworth Antiques
Keepers Pier House
In 1961 The citizens of Flour Bluff signed a petition to form their own township and the matter went on a ballot. However, when the Corpus Christi City Council heard this they also passed around a petition to annex Flour Bluff into Corpus Christi. This issue had a great effect on The Island because if Flour Bluff was not part of Corpus Christi then Corpus Christi could not leap frog Flour Bluff and annex The Island.
Holiday Inn
Island Tire
Gratitude Gift Shop
The developers who built the early infrastructure on The Island did so with the idea that it would be turned over to the City of Corpus Christi for maintenance and this was done lone before there were 500 people living on The Island. There was a window in the 1980s in which there were more than 500 people living in unincorporated areas of The Island who could have pushed to form their own township; however, that was not done and by the mid1980s most of The Island was in the city limits of Corpus Christi.
Snoopy’s Pier
Chamber of Commerce
Woody’s Sports Center
In the middle of San Antonio, as an example, there are a variety of small communities that Editor’s note: The question raised is a frequent one. The City of Port Aransas with just under 4000 people is an incorporated municipality with a property tax rate that is about 65% of that of Padre Island/Corpus Christi. In Alamo Heights, Balcones Heights, etc, those communities incorporated before the City of San Antonio grew out from the town center to touch them; The Island did not.
Andy Purvis
The Gaff
A3
Island Moon
I will most likely use in my next book. Andy Purvis
have incorporated (Alamo Heights, Balcones Heights just to name two.) Why can't we do the same? We would then be able to solve the problems that affect us....driving on the beach, building the Encantada Bridge.... Since the taxes here seem to go UP at an extraordinary rate wouldn't it be fair that we have use of the money and make decisions about where the money is spent? It seems to us that with we could support our own fire and police departments and trash removal. With the new Schlitterbahn there will be even more revenue coming to The Island but we won't be benefitting from it as things now stand. Has the idea of incorporating been raised before? If so, what are the pros and cons? Thank you. Nacho de Landa and India Lowres of annexation about 70% of the residences in Flour Bluff still do not have sewer lines. A few Texas communities have tried to remove themselves from the confines of their larger neighbors and the case law, generally speaking, says that in order for a portion of the city to de-annex, especially if that portion has a higher mean household income that the city at large, then the voters of the entire city must approve the de-annexation. Given that The Island provides a portion of the tax base for Corpus Christi that far outweighs its proportionate part of the population and subsequently, its proportionate demand on city services, it would be foolish for the voters /taxpayers in Corpus Christi to approved The Island’s de-annexation. Having said that, stranger things have happened, and it is true that propositions on city ballots have historically passed 80-20 for the simple reason that most voters never read them. But it is hard to see how first, five members of the city council would vote to put Island de-annexation on a ballot, and two, how voters across the city would approve it. It would not appear to be in their best interest. The question has been raised many times and there is little doubt de-annexation would easily pass muster with Island voters, but alas, we are but 4% of the population. The unlikelihood of removing The Island from the city is the reason for the formation of the Island United Political Action Committee to form an Island voting block to bring our percentage of the voting public closer in line with our percentage of the tax burden. IUPAC was very successful at this and our city’s response was to move the city elections from a stand-alone spring ballot to a fall ballot with the Presidential and Gubernatorial elections, which means instead of 26,000 voters casting city ballots, now 104,000 and 61,000 voters, respectively, cast city ballots and the majority of voters, who didn’t care enough about city government to go to the polls for city elections alone, now constitute the majority of voters who decide city issues and the vote from the Island, while a much higher percentage of voters per capita than the remainder of the city, is diluted for the purpose of countermanding the work done by the IUPAC. The reason given for the moving of the city elections to the fall was allegedly to save $40,000 in election costs. But within two years the city council voted to spend about $300,000 to hold a special election which could have waited for subsequent elections at a much lower cost; driving home the point that cost was never the issue – it was always about control and The Island, in the prevailing opinion of the political class, was getting too much of it. So the most likely way to get a de-annexation vote on a ballot is through a petition rather than through a council vote,, however, the chance of doing that, and following that with a citywide vote to go forward with Island de-annexation is probably somewhere right between slim and none. But again, stranger things have happened. Maybe you should start a petition drive.
Commercial Fishing Hi I grew up in the bluff I'm a 3rd generation commercial fisherman and just so you know trot lines have to have no more then 100 hooks per line and 50 feet apart and can be baited with dead or alive bait. This is how we make a living, not have fun. People want to complain about us making a living when they just want to play. There are so many laws and regulations against the commercial fishermen like how the national seashore made it impossible to fish the east side of the Laguna for trot liners crabbers ect. We are just trying to make a living.
More Letters to the Editor on A5
Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station Police Station Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
Member Padre Island Business Association
Member Padre Island Rotary Club
Did Ya Hear? by Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com
New Advertisers Island Time Sushi & Seafood is inviting Island residents to its open house on Saturday, August 9th 6 pm – 9 pm. They will be serving hors d’oeuvres and menu samples and will have beer and wine for purchase. Their Grand Opening will be Wednesday, August 13th and will be serving grilled items along with their sushi. Frog’s Pool Service is a full service company providing professional pool and repairs at one low monthly rate with chemicals included. CALL THE FROG at 876-9148.
Business Briefs Birdie on the Bay Golf Classic is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Texas that will be held Friday, September 12th with lunch at noon and tee off at 1 pm. There will be an awards ceremony and refreshments afterward. The fee is $125 per person or $500/team. Take advantage of this opportunity to get to play at the private Corpus Christi Country Club and help a great organization. Visit www.sotx.org/ birdieonthebay or call Amy at 512-4942927. The 7 Chords and 60 Minutes That Will Change Your Life is a uke workshop that promises you will be playing Singing in the Rain in just 20 minutes. Island Joe’s Coffee and Gallery is hosting this month’s ukulele club meeting on Tuesday, August 19th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. The coffe shop is located in the first strip mall as you come onto the Island from the bridge. A $3/ person donation covers the workshop, an instruction book and loaner ukulele (if you need one). RSVP PadreIslandUkeClub@ gmail.com or call Barber Joe Sexton at 361500-8955. MikelMay’s Beachside Bar & Grill at Bob Hall Pier is celebrating their first anniversary on Saturday, August 9th. They will have happy hour food & drink prices all day and live 80’s Music with The Daze. They serve breakfast in the restaurant every day starting at 7 am. Joe the Barber is the place to take your child for their back to school haircut. Make your appointment online at BarberJoeSexton.com or call 500-8955. Joe is located on the Island between the lights inside the Mail Plus Store. The Island Moon Newspaper ArtWalk began at the parking lot on the seawall but that space is no longer available. A permanent spot has been found at Schlitterbahn and the first one there will be on Saturday, October 25th. Interested vendors can contact us at editor@islandmoon.com or Jordan at Jgreer@schlitterbahn.com. The PIBA Luncheon speaker this month will be Port A resident Charlie Zahn who is chairman of the Nueces County Coastal Park Board and a member of the board of directors of the Port of Corpus Christi. He is spearheading the effort for windstorm insurance reform. The luncheon will at noon in the Holiday Inn on Thursday, August 14th. The Litter Critter will be at the waste water plant at the end of Whitecap this Saturday, August 9th 7 am – 4 pm. Rumor has it there is a delegation representing the Port of Corpus Christi heading to Chenzhen, China for talks about a multi-billion dollar development on the east side of Corpus Christi Bay near Ingleside. The talks are early but if successful would re-define that area and possibly the entire Coastal Bend due to its magnitude.
A4
August 7, 2014
Island Moon
Harte Research Institute Shark Expedition Featured on August 11 Premiere of Shark Week
History continued from A1 to the shrimp fleet, had been fueled, iced, and made ready to head out into the churned Gulf water behind the storm where shrimping conditions would be superb. But it was not to be. The harbor saw 12 foot waves which piled up the shrimp boats along the shore and destroyed the piers. The storm water did cut the island road connecting Padre Island and Port Aransas in several places which took months to repair to usable condition. The lack of electricity and water brought martial law but that didn’t charge some unscrupulous citizens from charging as much as $10 for five –pound bags of ice. But when Mayor Jack Blackmon and City Manager Marvin Townsend found out they had police confiscate the ice and give it to the American Red Cross to distribute. Gas prices shot up to $4 per gallon. On Padre Island the pass that is now Packery Channel continued on a straight course through what is now Lake Padre and connected to the Gulf Beach at the end of Whitecap Boulevard. In hindsight Celia turned out to be a Fifty-Year Storm which left an indelible mark on those who stayed through her and those who returned to find their homes gone or demolished; a stern reminder that life on a barrier island has its perils.
Hurricane Allen August 10, 1980
Giant shark caught and released Professors and researchers from the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will appear on the 27th season premiere of nationallyrecognized Discovery Channel hit series Shark Week on Monday, Aug. 11, beginning at 9 p.m. Central time. “Sharks play a key role in marine ecosystems, but unfortunately, the oceans have been experiencing dramatic declines in these charismatic animals,” said Dr. Greg Stunz, Director of the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation and one of the key players in the research. “By tagging the sharks, we will gain a better understanding of their migration patterns that will improve conservation of these species and improve the fishery status.” The episode titled “Monster Hammerhead” will center on legendary accounts of great hammerheads that developed in the 1940s era. During this time, they were often spotted in the Florida waters and were mistaken for German U-boats. The series is expected to reach 5 million viewers throughout the week it airs. During the episode, HRI plans to live Tweet with viewers using the handle @SportfishCenter. During a recent research cruise, Stunz and Dr. Matt Ajemian, Assistant Research Scientist for the HRI, spent eight days tagging some of the largest specimens they could find to determine if they are using the same historical migration routes as anecdotally described. During the trip, the team was able to tag 25 large sharks weighing more than 200 pounds as well as a few sharks varying from 10 to 13 feet in length and up to 800 pounds. “You will have to watch the show to find out if we tagged the ‘monster hammerhead’ we were looking for,” said Stunz. Their main goal is to find a legendary giant hammerhead that has been patrolling Florida’s coastline for the past 60 years. Once the hammerhead is caught, they attach a satellite tag and release it back into the water to track it to learn more about where these sharks may be moving and what habitats they are using. Together, Stunz and Ajemian and their shark research team have tagged more than 1,200 sharks. Many of these fish have been tagged by “citizen scientists” as part of a large volunteer angling network. These scientific discoveries will help to better understand which species are most common, where and when they occur, and connections between populations off Texas and the rest of the Gulf of Mexico.
This week also marks the anniversary of the last major storm to hit the area when 34 years ago this week Hurricane Allen which glanced off the Coastal Bend on August 10, 1980.
Damaged shrimp boats in Conn Brown Harbor damage. In Portland nearly 90 percent of structures sustained damage, and 75% in Port Aransas. More than 60,000 area homes were part of the $500 million in damage caused by the storm Due to the celerity with which the storm moved into the coast rain and surge tide were not the most destructive components; rain amounts of 5 to 7 inches and storm surge up to 9 feet caused relatively minor flood damage Hurricane Warnings had gone out for the Upper Texas Coast on the morning of August 2nd where Celia was expected to hit after making her northward turn. However, she stayed on course for Corpus Christi and Hurricane Warnings were issued on the morning of August 3rd for Corpus Christi for a strong Category 1 or weak Category 2 hurricane (90 to 100 mph sustained winds). For people who had decided to stay home there was scant time to prepare for what was roaring down their way. Central pressure in the storm dropped 43 millibars in 15 hours to 945 millibars Location Highest Tide Port Aransas Beach
9.2 feet
Mustang/Padre Islands
7.9 feet
Lavaca Bay Park - Port Lavaca
5.8 feet
Baytown
5.3 feet
Rockport
5.0 feet
Corpus Christi Bayfront
4.9 feet
Freeport - Dow Chemical Plant
4.9 feet
La Porte
4.8 feet
(27.89 inches of mercury at Ingleside) at landfall in the afternoon of August 3rd.
it was one of the strongest hurricanes in recorded history and one of the few hurricanes to reach Category 5 status on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale on three separate occasions, and spent more time as a Category 5 than any other Atlantic hurricane. Allen is the only hurricane in the recorded history of the Atlantic basin to achieve sustained winds of 190 mph. The storm appeared headed straight toward The Island when it veered south and made landfall near Port Mansfield but the Coastal Bend was on the “dirty” northeastern side of the storm so it still brought a 9.5-foot tidal surge to The Island which destroyed the Michael J. Ellis Seawall and also brought a 7.5foot tidal surge to Flour Bluff which flooded low-lying areas for more than a week. It left behind more than a dozen cuts through The Island from Corpus Christi Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Island got its share.
Celia almost reached Category 4 status with sustained winds of 125 mph at Corpus Christi International Airport and 130 mph at Aransas Pass. For most hurricanes, the storm surge is the most damaging and life threatening element. But for Celia the storm surge was second to the raw power of the wind. The highest storm surge occurred at Port Aransas where the tides reached 9.2 feet at the beach and 9.0 feet at the jetty. Only relatively minor damage occurred in Port Aransas due to the storm surge. The tides ranged from 3 to 5 feet from Corpus Christi north to Baytown and Galveston. Conn Brown Harbor in Aransas Pass, which was then home
Isla Mexican Restaurant will be opening soon with a drive-through and covered patio across from Scuttlebutts.
Bag Hero
Skip the Plastic is pleased to announce our August Bag Hero, Freddy Ramirez. Freddy feels strongly that we can all work together for a better community, and the case of plastic shopping bags, it starts with one bag at a time.
One more way to use the Moon
Seawall damage after Hurricane Allen
Letters to the Editor August 7, 2014
Island Moon
Poor Fracking Bill!
Every man is a dreamer so let him believe that he is actually saving time by not hitting “ALL” the traffic on SPID on the way to Upper Padre Island. Let’s see a drive from Plegaton to UPI via I-37 – 126 miles (2 hrs.) with the slow down on SPID around Weber or via I-37, 188, 181, TAFT, ferry then UPI (3 hrs.) not counting ferry extra time. Poor Bill must think he is getting his fracking wage for his time. (A fracking site is like working for the government same amount of mudslinging but with better pay.) Obviously fracking doesn’t need math, so Bill, let’s help. If one car length averages about 25 feet and there are 5280 feet in a mile, how many cars will fit in a mile? How many will fit in three miles? ANS 1 mile = 211.2 cars and 3 miles of cars = 633 cars So if TXDOT states that 650 cars are moved in one hour, assuming that is both directions, then one way can move 325 cars in one hour. So using the answers from the previous questions, how long is the wait for three miles of cars? Old Math: 1 car = 25 ft. 1 mile = 5280ft. times number of cars in 1 mile = 211.2 cars 3 miles of cars = 633 cars = just under two hours wait time unless you are in a motor cycle then you can move to the front of the line OR you have one of those special passes that allows you to “Take Cuts” (I’ve been taken into this scenario at least twice what was that all about?)
TXDOT math: 650 cars per hour through ferry with only 633 cars possible in a 3 mile strip = at least 3 hrs. wait time. So Bill, we can understand your confusion especially if you have been on the fracking site for a while. If you want a real challenge calculate how much gas is wasted and pollution added to the atmosphere by your manly fracking 4 wheel drive 350 series extended cab, tweaked out, taller coil and lifted dually pick up while it waits in that line. Become an independent contractor with a front bumper winch and make your “commute” help with the taxes. (Tow truck rates are more than $650 if you can find one willing to lift you from the sugar sand.) Fracking Bill - Welcome to Island life – get that big boat and bigger motors ready to run afoul of the fracking fishermen who moor their boats perpendicular to the canals clogging the boat lanes and dare you to run them over. They like TXDOT think only their “math” is right. There are only two ways to get here from there. So come, grab a brewski and relax at you home away from home. You are only missing the angel choir that sounds when you hit the top of the causeway bridge when driving from CC. I will listen for you the next time I come back from OTB. Top of the Island to you! Marcia Tan Dasmarinas
Social Security
Frank Kormos remembers the dusty cemeteries of rural North Texas where he helped lay to rest poverty-stricken seniors during the Great Depression. “Before Social Security, there were people starving and they hardly had any place to live,” said Kormos. “They didn’t have retirement. That just didn’t exist. And when these folks passed, we would just go and dig graves for them in humble country cemeteries.”
Raised on small farms, Kormos, now 99 and living in Dallas, is a retired automotive engine expert, as well as a veteran of the U.S. Army and Army Reserves. The long-time volunteer for AARP Texas started collecting Social Security a quarter-century ago. He sees the program as far more than a safety net for people to retire with dignity and security. “It’s the best thing we ever did in this country,” he said. “Social Security is the greatest thing that could have ever happened.” August 14 is the 79th anniversary of Social Security, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law to protect ordinary Americans “against the loss of a job and poverty-ridden old age.” In Texas today, 3.6 million, or one of seven residents, receive Social Security, including 88 percent of all Texans over the age of 65. Texans earn their benefits through a lifetime of hard work. As a result, it insures families against the loss of income caused by retirement, disability, or death. Like Frank Kormos, I also grew up in rural Texas. Raised in the small town of Poth, outside San Antonio, I had five brothers and two sisters whom my father supported until he died of lung cancer. After his death, our family members took jobs to support ourselves. It was the survivor benefits offered to my mother by Social Security that kept us from being destitute. But my plight is hardly unique. Each year, Social Security lifts 789,000 Texan retirees from poverty. Nearly 41 percent of Texas’ 65plus population would fall into incomes below poverty if not for Social Security. As such,
Social Security is an engine for Texas’ growing economy. As a vast program often subject to debate over its long-term outlook, misunderstandings exist about Social Security, said AARP Texas volunteer Carla Penny of Austin who previously served on the national AARP Policy Council. Penny said many younger workers, especially “Millennials” born after the 1980s, fear Social Security may not be available to them or future generations. But she and other experts insist that while steps eventually need to be taken to address the solvency of the program, Social Security is strong overall. A new Social Security Trustees’ report finds that the combined Old Age, Survivor and Disability Insurance Trust Fund can pay full retirement, survivor and disability benefits for approximately two more decades, and about 75 percent of benefits beyond that time for at least several generations more. In response to the July 28 report, AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond says what ought to happen now is “an honest, open, national discussion about the value of Social Security and its importance to millions of retired workers, spouses, children, veterans, and persons with disabilities.” Penny, of Austin, agrees, and she said there are probably a dozen or more ways Social Security could be strengthened. Delaying discussion in Washington, if not also action, she said, will likely only result in the need for more drastic remedies. When it comes to the importance of Social Security, there’s strong advocacy in Houston from Ronnie McNab. He’s 50 and a new AARP member. He works part-time at a food pantry and is unable to keep longer hours due to health conditions following an accident that hospitalized him for six weeks with a coma and memory loss. He collects Social Security disability benefits. “If I wasn’t on Social Security, no kidding, I would have to live out on the streets,” he said. “For me, it’s definitely necessary. I’m making it because Social Security is part of the mix.” Julia Castellano-Hoyt
Water Editor, In 1972, Congress established the Clean Water Act (CWA) to create a basic structure for regulating water quality standards and discharges of pollutants into “waters of the United States.” Under this act, “waters of the U.S.” are classified as bodies of water that are “navigable.” In other words, the EPA has jurisdiction over a body of water you can sail a steamboat or large ship through. While Congress gave the EPA authority over “navigable” waterways, the EPA is again trying to abuse and expand its authority. The agency announced a new rule proposal in March that would redefine “waters of the U.S.” to expand the water and land that falls under its jurisdiction. This proposal amounts to the largest land grab in history. Essentially, it would give the agency control over all bodies of water. This includes ponds, streams, creeks, ditches, puddles, manmade conveyances, wet areas on pastures, etc. Basically, the federal government would control every drop of water in the country. The EPA doesn’t want to pass this rule through regular order in Congress. They have tried this twice and failed. Instead, the agency plans to bypass Congress and force us to comply through a rulemaking process. If adopted, the new rule would not be good for the Texas cattle industry. For the first time, certain ditches would be defined as jurisdictional tributaries under Clean Water Act programs. Additionally, conservation activities
not complying with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) practice standards would be required to have a 404 dredge-and-fill permit. This means you would be subject to additional permitting requirements for applying pesticides, grazing cattle, conducting construction projects and performing other routine maintenance on your land. These permits can cost around $30,000 and take up to a year to receive. Failure to obtain them would likely result in a penalty. When the EPA drafted this flawed rule, they didn’t consult with agricultural industry groups or you as producers. Instead, the agency was too concerned with finding ways to expand its jurisdiction, while in-turn creating more burdensome regulations for the men and women who work daily to provide the food and fiber of our country. This proposal presents significant challenges for us, but there is a way we can help stop it. I encourage you, your family, friends and neighbors to comment on the rule in the federal register before the deadline ends Monday, October 20, 2014. Your participation is important as we must let the EPA know how detrimental this rule would be to our industry and livelihood. It is crucial that we send a clear message to the EPA that we will not allow this proposal to be implemented, and its desire to expand onerous government regulations will not be tolerated. Richard Thorpe III, First Vice President, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
Stuff I Heard on the Island
A5
by Dale Rankin If you ask around, everyone who lived here then has a story; and the details come out like it happened yesterday, still raw and bare like the wind outside is still howling. There’s the official story, full of statistics about wind speed and damage (over $2 billion in today’s money) and the number of people who died. But the verbal history tells another story, it details the micro not the macro and is a personal and therefore more compelling version of The Storm – the Big One – Hurricane Celia which rolled into the Coastal Bend 44 years ago this week.
storm. For a week the smell from the diesel fuel in the water was so strong it stung your eyes. Even railroad tracks were formed into arches attesting to the power of the storm. James’ father and another couple from the boat next door with their dog had to abandon their boats mid-storm and ride out the remainder behind a concrete wall. In Ingleside 95 percent of the business district and 45 percent of the residential area was demolished, downtown at the House of Milo Wigshop the owner chased wigs down the street yelling, “my wigs, my wigs, my wigs,” as her stock disappeared into the ether.
I stayed at the only open hotel on the Corpus Christi Bayfront, the Mayflower I believe it was, after Hurricane Allen in 1980. I sat out Hurricane Alicia in downtown Houston in 1983 that brought entire window panes from skyscrapers wafting down like leaves and leaving six inches of broken glass in the streets like a cataclysmic August snowstorm. I lived under martial law for months in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina with bodies still floating in the streets. But the damage from those storms was rising water not unspeakable wind. You can climb your way out of rising water; in 170 mph winds there is nowhere to hide.
Niagara Falls turnaround When Hurricane Celia hit we were in Niagara Falls and it took the better part of three days to drive home to Portland. As we tried to turn off the highway we were stopped by the National Guard and escorted to Fulton Street where we found our house, one of two on the block still standing. The once two-story, now one-story house next door had taken the brunt of the wind. The windows, part of the roof, and the patio with a 100-pound anvil tied to it were gone – later found a block away inside the neighbor’s living room. As I rode my bike around Eastcliff the sheer power of the storm was stunning; a house where 1x4 planks had blown headlong right through brick walls, bits of field grass ripped up by the roots were imbedded into stucco walls, large planks split telephone poles. My friends George and Ben Wright had been pinned under their bed early in the storm by a roof truss of two 2x12 boards blown like a matchstick down Markham Street. Mrs. Raeder, an elderly lady across the street had recently moved from Michigan and, along with a recent transplant from Chicago down the block neither of whom were familiar with the realities of a hurricane, had decided to ride out the storm to take pictures. The man lost his camera when it was blown from his hands only to find it later in the bushes with the film showing a German Sheppard flying in mid-air with a roof truss – likely the same one which pinned down the Wright brothers – flying along with him, exotic birds caught in the storm’s eye on the far side of the Gulf of Mexico that were so exhausted he could walk up and touch them. For weeks Mrs. Reader spoke in a halting, quivering voice and refused to leave what was left of her house. Over on Holly Drive my friend Michael and his family were huddled in their wood frame house looking out the front window when the house exploded, leaving them standing in open air in what seconds before was their living room. One of my father’s employees at White Point, new to the area, tried to ride out the storm in a trailer house, “We had hurricane straps!” and ended up huddled with his family behind a three-foot concrete wall while the storm raged overhead.
Across the Bay Over at Conn Brown Harbor in Aransas Pass my friend James’ father had his shrimp boat fueled, the hold full of ice, in readiness to put to sea in the storm’s aftermath where the churned-up Gulf would yield up her catch. Just hours before the storm weather forecasts had called for 70 mph winds, less than some cold fronts. He watched as water levels dropped by four feet then rose to eight feet over high tide lifting wooden piers off their pilings leaving the boats as so much chaff in the wind. Twelvefoot waves rolled over the scene. The shrimp fleet which then called Conn Brown home was preparing for the run to Campeche and the onslaught caught the harbor packed with trawlers. The Aransas Shrimp Co-Op was later reported to have lost 25 of its 75 boats. In all 35 shrimp trawlers were beached and 22 sunk in the harbor. The ice and fuel plants at the Gulf King and at the Shrimp Co-Op were badly mauled, and practically every pier was torn away by the
Hurricane winds blew a board into this power pole, splitting it. By 4:15 most of the power in the Coastal Bend was out, the Red Cross headquarters where emergency supplies were stored was blown to the wind and as night settled and the dawn broke the magnitude of the destruction sunk in.
The aftermath In Portland we didn’t have electricity or running water for weeks. At night the little town on the edge of the bay settled into an uneasy darkness and stillness that drove home the desperation of our situation. The ground was covered with cedar shake shingles which were popular at the time and were covered in skin eating fiberglass insulation. When you tried to sleep the tiny shards of fiberglass ate into your damp skin and if you scratched it would not wash out. Stray dogs roamed the neighborhood, the man next door shot at what he thought was a looter and found a blood trail but no body. Tetanus shots were the order of the day. We took our small plane up for a look around and as we flew over The Island it was clear most of it had been underwater. There were few houses on The Island at the time but the rising water had found its way into them. The surge tide on The Island was eight feet; the same elevation as the Whitecap/SPID intersection. Around the Coastal Bend reality set in. At the back of Nueces Bay, which eyewitnesses said had been blown dry early in the storm, the storm water had left a debris field fifteen feet high with letters from address on Padre Island mixed with items from downtown stores with the price tags still on them. In Taft when the HEB store started giving out free potatoes a near riot erupted. As in New Orleans after Katrina, the only communications immediately after the storm was through radio. The towers in Corpus Christi were out so two stations became the "Voices of Kingsville" and the Coastal Bend. People who entered the storm without a gray hair emerged looking like they had aged ten years. Families packed up and moved away. Storm stories were told and retold. Everyone had one; and they still do. Just ask around.
A6
August 7, 2014
Island Moon
On the Rocks By Jay Gardner Lately I feel like the world is closing in on normalcy and freedoms. I feel like there is an underlying faction or push to trade freedom for protection, as in protection like personal safety, and also as in protection for the environment. The rangers on the seashore are back up to their old tricks with harassing visitors. I wonder if it coincides with the ending of the turtle patrol season, where there are less eyes and ears on the beach. What I mean by that, is that there are less witnesses to the rangers harassing behavior. Maybe it’s all in my head and the rangers are fully justified in stopping and searching anyone they choose while speeding up and down the beach. The reports are showing back up on the message boards. When I was down on the sand last time I had a few minutes so I busted off at Yarborough and headed back to Murdock’s landing on the backside of the island. The road was in absolutely hideous shape, and the Park has erected bollards along the “road”, and I mean right at the edge of the road, sometimes in it. You have to be extremely careful in avoiding the crater-like potholes because you might smack into the bollards. It appears that this has already occurred several times as a few bollards have a serious lean to them. The bollards, in the name of safety for the adjacent wetlands, has made it more dangerous to take the road as they force you into rough road conditions, and there’s nowhere to go around some of these hazards. If you break down in the road, like lose some steering or suspension like I have recently in town, anyone on the other side of you had better have plenty of food and water; because you’re going to be there a while. The Park was so overzealous in their protection of the environment they didn’t leave enough room for two cars to pass on the road. Trading freedom of passing for safety for the wetlands. Doesn’t quite make sense. The view was of course like no other though, and there were a few kayakers back there recreating and camping on the old launch/ parking pad, which I admit the Park has done a great job of leveling and providing a nice even surface of caliche upon which to park and camp. This of course came with bollards all around the pad as well. They really don’t want you getting off the beaten path. This became even more apparent when I drove out
to the old camp ground at the edge of the water, which is nothing more than a bare spot on the ground. My favorite fishing hole to the north was bollarded off; it will increase the walk back to the north by a good half mile. Problem is that the old road to the north was very well demarcated, with bits of caliche still present, with an organized turn around. No longer. Protection for the environment. Now, I understand that the Park has many facets and also a lot of difficulty dealing with bad apples that spoil it for everyone else. If a
Scott Callender and John Ramos with a Sailfish caught on August 2.
This light shallow running skiff is extremely quiet and surpasses the needs of any fisherman while remaining List $34,572 easy to maintain and surprisingly affordable No driving in the Park truck drives on the back side of the island in the wind tidal flats, the damage that is created by compressing the algal mats can persist for literally decades. This changes the dynamics on the back side of the island which can affect a number of birds species and plants as well. In addition, with all the border issues, I’m sure that there are illegals using the corridor along Padre Island to get north. I know, I used to work on the seashore and witnessed them on several occasions. The beach has always been a great roadway. Along with the illegals are the drugs that come with them, and the people running them are likely armed and dangerous. These people stick out like sore thumbs compared with the other beach users fishing in one spot however, and if you can’t tell the difference you might need to go back to school. But the rangers job is inherently dangerous, and it would be lawless down there without them. August is going to move pretty fast with all the back to school shopping, last minute vacations, people moving into and out of town, and locals trying to have a bit of fun. Y’all be considerate out there, don’t crowd each other when the bite is good and Stay Off My Rock! You know which one it is. Shoot me a message at jaygardner@scientist.com
Big Tiger Shark caught five miles off shore of Port A. Photo by Ronnie Narmour
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August 7, 2014
A7
Island Moon
Backwater Adventures First and Last Light
By Joey Farah Farah’s Fishing Adventures
into your fishing area, Anchor the boat off the bow or stern to minimize the silhouette on the horizon. Slip the anchor in the water and do not slam any boxes, and keep everyone stationary and let one person do the moving around so not to rock the boat and send waves of vibration out into the glassy flats. When the bay glasses over, shallow water sends your vibration out much farther, deeper water is where you can find a bite. The deep channels will hold all the ingredients for first light, no wind success. Tide movement, presence of bait, cool water, and the depth will mask your presence. The shrimp have mostly moved out of the bay but there is a large population of small grass shrimp that are a big part of game fish’s diet. As well the packs of hunting fish will push minnows and baitfish out away from the shelter of the grass into open water during the night. At first light we can catch these groups of fish still hunting the edges of the large grass lines in the Laguna Madre’. As the sun comes up minnows run back into the
I slid the boat down to a halt and suddenly silence crept over the earth. The sound of crickets and locusts could be heard from the shoreline a thousand yards away. We whispered as the hum of the trolling motor slid us up to the spoil hump along the Intracoastal Canal. The first cast we made we put a double piggy out in the scattered sand pockets and thought that maybe nothing was even moving because of the slick mirrored glass surface of the water. No bait fish jumped and no birds were in the air. I looked out and stretched my arms to the orange sky bleeding into this summer day. I still get taken back by the sun’s entrance and exit here in our paradise. As soon as I lowered my arms I felt a thump on the line and I saw a boil out at the end of my cast. As I tightened up and the Waterloo Rod bent over a nice 20in trout came to the surface breaking any idea of empty water. She ripped off to the south and sent a flick of water as her top fin raced across the glassy sheet of water separating our two worlds. As she came to the boat she started an hour long frenzy that put twenty plus trout in our hands. The action was quick and many of the fish were under the 15in mark, but we boated some nice ones and saw fish feeding in a frantic manner. This lasted just as long as it took for that orange sun to burn off the small Family offshore fun. King Fish are close, troll just off the beach. clouds on the horizon and raise into the sky. As soon as the first bead of sweat formed on grass and hide as the trout either find mid-day our heads the trout quit. This “first light bite” is hideouts in the grass as well or stage out deep in typical for this time of year and is mimicked at the cooler currents of open water. The most fun the end of each summer day as well. The factors I have had lately is pitching soft plastics along that support these feeding times are not just the the side of the ICW at first light. The action is red hot temperatures of summer but the way the intense and the quality of trout is great. I have fish and marine creatures adapt to the weather been throwing the DOA SHRIMP in red and all patterns this time of year. So get up and get out natural colors. Let the bait fall just off of the early. drop and remember that you are moving it as slow as a real shrimp moves that is SLOW! If Trout Bite you can’t stand to move like that use a small Our winds are light to nothing in the mornings DOA CAL Minnow, this is a smaller sized bait right now and sunlight quickly penetrates the with great action. With all the flounder out there water. This first of all sends light into the flats right now and the multitude of small baitfish and makes surprising baitfish difficult for game sometimes a smaller soft plastic works best. fish. The light also shines in their eyes and Red Tails blinds them, as well as lets them see the skyline outline of the fishermen on the surface much The time is now for the best sight casting of easier. With light winds it is hard to cast very the year. The low tides have opened up miles far so many times game fish feel the presence and miles shin deep water that we can lose of the boat much faster and move off. Some ourselves in. The relaxation an angler gets by adjustments can make a world of difference, just slowing down everything in life to a pace use your trolling motor or push pole to glide slower than a fish lets the soul relax. With that,
get skinny and just observe. The wakes of your legs roll out before you, so get away from the boat and then just stop. The DOA Shrimp is the perfect bait to start out with because the hook is on top and the bait can be worked slowly and when it comes to rest on the bottom it doesn’t catch grass. Throw at all fish you can until you can distinguish the difference in species. A little PRO CURE shrimp juice will help stubborn reds and let you catch the drum too. You will notice the “first light bite” here too. At first light redfish will have their tails above water without a care in the world. As the sun rises birds begin to fly and their shadows scare the reds and all the mullet making them become sub-surface. The first hour of light is magical, get out there and let your eyes hunt fish for you, by 8oclock you can go home with an adventure in your heart. The winds of last light are bringing the redfish that hide in the grass all day out to play. Drifting the flats of the Lagoon at sunset will send your rod into a hard bend. Throw big gold spoons when the winds are up and pump them hard. Let the vibration get the many big reds out in the flats up and out of the grass. Fishing the times of day when the winds are up will allow anglers to really get long casts away from the boat and cover a lot of water. If anyone wants a great change in their summer time fishing game give me a call I love to teach people to sight cast in the shallows. With two anglers I can point out all the small details and show you fish as you make the perfect cast and presentation, learning to distinguish fish direction and species.
Big snapper are getting harder to find in state waters with heavy fishing pressure. First light bite this week bay as on the way out you can see baitfish all over the surface. The massive schools of small baitfish are feeding on tiny plankton and other little things that we have to ask Jay about, as the first rays of light penetrate the now slick surface these and the shrimp, crabs, and sea lice burry up in the bottom. During the night hours the waters offshore are alive with action. As anglers we usually only get the last hour of the show. The snapper bite is still good but the many days of small seas have put the amount of keepers at the close rigs to a minimum. Our best fish have come from drifting, as the larger snapper are hunters and don’t always hang close to big structure. Drift bottom baits and top baits for kingfish at the same time. Live shad and surface ribbon fish for the kings, and big squid on the bottom. ALWAYS check more than one report on the forecast before you plan a trip offshore. The kiss of death is a strong wind, especially a north. If the forecast shows one foot but the winds are up expect the forecast to be wrong. Don’t take chances offshore and don’t be embarrassed to turn around at the jetty. This is the time of year that people die, it’s not worth it.
Off the Beach The ocean has been like a lake allowing fishermen to venture out away from the beach. This is one of the things I like to enjoy with family and friends. I think I feel a little hurt when customers take home those snapper and ling fillets, I want them. For us the excitement of breaking the jetty is a high of anticipation of not knowing what you may catch or see. Flying fish breaking the surface drifting just above the mirrored surface gets me going. The kingfish are close, real close. Troll just off the beach about 500yds with lures and ribbonfish. Silver spoons will hook you up with both king and Spanish mackerel, just remember you have to have a wire leader. Attach an egg weight and swivel before your leader to keep the spoon down under the surface. You can vary the depth you present the lure with light and heavy weights. The “first light bite” is important offshore as well as in the
Last night I sat in front of the Frozen Yogurt place and enjoyed how cool the afternoon was. I looked across the street at the ancient sand dunes with the small oaks growing on top, and wondered how nice it was centuries ago as native Americans lived here on our Island. They just as I must have enjoyed life the most at first and last light, when we forget about the hot sun and scorching temperatures that we endure here. They believed that just when the sun breached the horizon over the sea that we could get in touch with friends and family that have passed. Today we should also take a moment to remember how lucky we are to be here along the ocean and on this blessed Island.
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A8
August 7, 2014
Island Moon
SPORTS Big 12 to Get First Female Official Began as a waitress in a sports bar By Dotson Lewis Special to the Island Moon On Saturday, Sept. 6, history will be made as Catherine "Cat" Conti will become the first female to officiate a Big 12 football game. Dotson’s note: I was the Supervisor of Officials for the old Southwest Conference (SWC) a few years ago. That was before the SWC and the Big 8 combined forces to form what is now known as the Big 12 Conference. When I was supervisor, the SWC was hands down, the most powerful and influential conference in Collegiate Football. At that time the schools in the SWC were Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Rice, Southern Methodist, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Christian and Texas Tech. I was under constant pressure from the outside, to diversify the makeup of the SWC on the field officiating staff. I was constantly being bugged by outside organizations and individuals to ensure diversity of the officiating staff by balancing ethnicity, gender, age and geographical residence. I could relate many horror stories, but for now I will just provide the facts as I see them regarding the assignment of the first female football official to work a “big time” college game. In future issues of The Moon I will do my best to keep you informed as to how this is working out.
worked, she wouldn't be among the four women who will be on-field officials in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season. The 38-yearold Conti had been assigned to the Southeast Missouri State-Kansas game on Sept. 6, making her the first woman to work a football game in the Big 12 Conference. "The ultimate goal is to be able to do it at the highest level," Conti said. "Tennis players want to play Wimbledon, golfers want to play Pebble Beach, and football players want to get to the Super Bowl. The reality of it is, I'm hoping I just get a second Big 12 game." Conti will work mostly as a line judge in the Mountain West for the second straight year. She landed the Big 12 gig through the league's officiating partnership with the Mountain West and FCS-level Southland Conference. Mountain West supervisor of officials Ken Rivera said Conti has moved up on merit and hasn't drawn much notice from coaches — which is a good thing. "Usually coaches don't call me to tell me how good an official is," Rivera said. "They call because they have an issue, and we haven't had any blowback with Cat at all." Conti, from Thousand Oaks, California, said she knew nothing about football before she dated a boy in high school who was a San Francisco 49ers fan. She developed a passion for the game in college and became fascinated with the chain crew on the sideline. "As a theater arts major, I started lying to everybody for my own entertainment, telling them I'm going to move to San Francisco and be a yard-marker for the 49ers," Conti said, laughing. "Every time the chain crew would go on the field for a measurement, I'd punch the guy next to me in the shoulder and say, 'I'm totally going to do that someday.'" She was waitressing the day she met local high school coach George Contreras and asked him, half-jokingly, how one gets a job on a chain crew. He suggested she pursue onfield officiating instead. A few months later he brought her a newspaper clipping about an upcoming orientation meeting for prospective officials.
Cat Conti Named First Female Big 12 Official Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Monday that Catherine ''Cat'' Conti will be on the crew for Kansas' season opener at home Sept. 6 against Southeast Missouri State. Bowlsby spoke highly of Conti during the official announcement. Here are Bowlsby's comments on the matter: She is not there because she is a female. She is there because she's paid her dues and because she is a really outstanding football official. … This is a good opportunity for her and a good opportunity for us, and I don't think you'll really notice much about how the officiating is done on the game. But it's significant that she's doing it. Conti has officiated football games for years, but has done so at the high school and smaller conference level. While she is scheduled to officiate the one contest for the Big 12, she will be full-time for the Mountain West this year.
"I thought, 'Why not?'" Conti said. That was in 2000. Conti ascended through the high school and junior college ranks and, by 2010, had to resign from her job as a ninthgrade English and drama teacher so she could go all in on officiating. She now does personal training to supplement her officiating income. Conti said she's taken no more abuse than a male official would and that no one has outwardly questioned her ability based on her gender. Kansas coach Charlie Weis joked last week that he would have to watch his language in the presence of Conti. Weis needn't worry. Conti won't be able to hear him because she'll be working as center judge, the eighth official who stands in the offensive
She has slowly moved her way up the ladder in the lower conferences to now officiating in the Big 12, but Conti still has other dreams of making it to the NFL. She spoke about those aspirations, via Schroeder's report: "That's the ultimate dream," Conti said. "But if this Big 12 game is the highest I ever get, it's certainly been a great career. … I've never walked on a football field and felt I was over my head." Regardless of what she does following the Big 12 game, Conti will make history by simply stepping on the field. With the signature black and white stripes, Conti will no doubt look to simply blend in with her fellow officials and do her job as usual despite the added attention that this historic situation will generate.
Comedian Richard Pryor was once asked how he would like to be remembered. He said, “I want people to look at my picture, remember, and laugh. I would like to leave some joy.” This guy was always a pleasure to watch and a joy to have known. He was shorter than the program stated, with 44-inch thighs that resembled twin jet-engines. At 209 pounds, power was his forte. Built close to the ground like a fire hydrant, he could churn up defenses like a high-speed lawnmower. Undersized for a pro football player, his stats didn’t measure his heart. His ticker weighed a ton. Handing this guy a football was like giving Wyatt Earp a handgun, LeBron James an outlet pass, or Mike Trout an extra strike; something incredible was about to happen. This guy ran tough; it was like trying to tackle a Pepsi machine. He simply sawed defensive linebackers in half at the line of scrimmage. He was never late to anything in his life including moving the chains for a first down. His job was to cut a path to the end zone for the running back or stop all oncoming traffic in the backfield, while keeping his quarterback standing upright and his uniform clean. Dallas Cowboy offensive guard, John Niland, once said, “If we needed three yards or less for a first down, we knew we had it. Give Robert the ball, and we had it. We’d block a yard and a half, and he’d get the other yard and a half on his own. It was a given.” Robert Newhouse played like he had invented the fullback position. I can hear Verne Lundquist now, “There goes Newhouse busting it up the middle.” His teammates called him “House.”
backfield opposite the referee. She will watch the interior line for holding and ready the ball for play. Conti said all she wants is to be treated like one of the guys.
Started in a sports bar
Dotson’s Note: What are your thoughts/ concerns regarding females working (officiating) NCAA Division 1 or the NFL? Please call the Benchwarmers 560-5397 Weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 4-6 PM or contact me Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com
"If everybody has to watch their language, or if everybody has to watch how they conduct themselves and I'm 'super sensitive Suzy,' then I don't belong out there," Conti said. "I'm in their world. That's the reality. I am inserting myself into their universe, and I'm just happy to be there."
for a trick play to seal the victory. Newhouse was nervous in the huddle. “I was worried because I had all this stickum on my hands, said Newhouse. “Preston Pearson handed me this rag, and I was in there, scrubbing it all. They’d seen us run the play right but not to the left, and so they didn’t recognize it in time.” At the snap, Newhouse took a pitch from quarterback Roger Staubach and began running to his left, as if he were going to run down the sideline. Instead, he stopped quickly, turned and threw back to the right, over the outstretched hands of Denver defensive back Steve Foley, hitting wide receiver Golden Richards in stride for a 29-yard touchdown. The Dallas Cowboys would go on to win their second Super Bowl title by a score of 27-10. Landry said after the game, “Newhouse’s pass play won it for us.”
Galilee to Houston Robert Fulton Newhouse was born on January 9, 1950, in Longview, Texas, and played football at nearby Galilee High School in Hallsville, Texas. Although he rushed for 200 yards and sometimes over 300 yards per game in high school, he was only recruited by one Division I school, the University of Houston. With Robert Newhouse running the ball, Houston finished 9-2 in 1969 and was ranked 12th in the nation. In 1970, Houston finished 8-3 and was ranked 19th. In 1971, before his senior season started at Houston, Newhouse cracked his pelvis in a car accident. He chose to play though the pain and propelled Houston to a 9-3 record and a ranking of 17th in the nation. Newhouse was selected Second-Team All-American by the Associated Press. Newhouse still holds the University of Houston’s all-time rushing record for a single season with 1,757 yards. Newhouse broke many other school records, some of which still stand today. He had ten 100-yard games in a season (1971), sixteen 100-yard games in a career, and the most 200-yard games in a season, with three. Back when the College AllStars played the Super Bowl Champions from the year before, Newhouse scored a touchdown against the Cowboys. I always wondered if that touchdown had anything to do with the Cowboys’ drafting him. Robert Newhouse also played in the Hula Bowl and was inducted into the University of Houston’s Athletics Hall of Honor in 1977. Robert Newhouse is also a member of the Texas Black Hall of Fame.
Man with the Hat
This is a huge move that follows another significant moment in sports and officiating after Sarah Thomas officiated the first Division I game back in 2007. As the Associated Press reported last month, Thomas might become the first female NFL official this fall. Whether or not Conti will join her is another story. But for now, she'll blaze her own trail on September 6 in a Big 12 game. Cat Conti never played sports, let alone had any interest in them, when she was growing up in Southern California. She wanted to be a Hollywood star. Like many wannabe actors, she found herself waiting tables after college. And had it not been for her getting to know a high school coach at the sports grill where she
Busting it up the Middle
By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon
Newhouse played 12 seasons under the “Man with the Hat” legendary Hall-of-Fame Coach Tom Landry. House was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1972 NFL draft. He was given #44. During the 1973 season, House recorded his longest run from scrimmage, 54 yards, against the Philadelphia Eagles. He switched from halfback to fullback to replace a retiring Walt Garrison and became a starter in 1975. He would make his presence felt that year by leading the Cowboys in rushing with 930 yards and was listed ninth in the league with 4.4-yards per carry. By 1977, Tony Dorsett had been drafted and House became more of a blocking back for Dorsett and Calvin Hill. By 1980, Newhouse began splitting time in the backfield with Ron Springs. He would continue to play sparingly until he retired after the 1983 season.
Brown right, X-opposite shift, toss 38, halfback lead, fullback pass to Y The play was called: “brown right, X-opposite shift, toss 38, halfback lead, fullback pass to Y.” Dallas was leading 20-10 with seven minutes to go, in Super Bowl XII. The Denver Broncos had just fumbled and Dallas recovered the ball on the Broncos’ 29-yard line. Coach Landry sensed that Denver was on the ropes and called
Robert Newhouse became the first running back to pass for a touchdown in Super Bowl history. “The thing I remember most about that halfback option play we ran against Denver,” said former Cowboy personnel director Gil Brandt, “is that we ran it going left, and it’s a lot harder to go left than right. During the week they must’ve practiced the play ten times, and he never completed it. And that was going right. Here it is going left, and he completed it.”
Time is more valuable than money Newhouse finished his Cowboy career with 4,784 yards rushing, 956 yards receiving and scored 31 touchdowns. He averaged over an astounding four yards per carry. He also participated in three Super Bowls during the 1970’s (X, XII, and XIII). I believe he should be in the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor. Robert Newhouse suffered a stroke in 2010. Doctors had been treating him and hoping he would become healthy enough to withstand the surgery required for a heart transplant. Newhouse was confined to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, at the time of his death. “My dad’s last days were terrible,’ said his son, Rodd Newhouse. Former Dallas Cowboy, Robert Newhouse, died from complications of heart disease on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. He was but 64 years old. He is survived by his wife Nancy, twin daughters Dawnyel and Shawntel, two sons Roderick and Reggie, a former wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. “House was a great football player,” said Roger Staubach. “Off the field, he was a great man, kind and caring, solid as a rock.” Motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, “Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.” The only thing that could keep Robert Newhouse out of the end zone of life was time. Come on, admit it. He was the kind of guy you wished you had on your team. Andy Purvis is a local author and radio personality. His newest book “Greatness Continued” is now available to order online at bn.com, Amazon.com, Google Books, Booksamillion, etc. You may also purchase all three books at Beamer’s Sports Grill 5922 S Staples or the local Barnes & Noble store. Please visit www.purvisbooks.com for more info or contact him at purvis.andy@mygrande. net. Listen to Dennis Quinn & Andy Purvis Q & A Session each Thursday 6-8 PM on ESPN 1440 KEYS.
August 7, 2014
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Island Moon
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Last Kemp’s Ridley Hatchlings Being Released By Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery National Park Service Padre Island National Seashore e-mail: Donna_Shaver@nps.gov If you are hoping to watch a public release of Kemp’s ridley hatchlings at Padre Island National Seashore, there will only be 2 or 3 more opportunities this year.
Fifteen of our public releases this year were held during 3 spans of consecutive days. Two of these spans were 6 days long, and 1 was 3 days long. This concentration of hatching and releases mirrors the concentration of nesting. Eggs hatch about 48 to 53 days after they are laid. It is “feast or famine” with Kemp’s ridley nesting. We can have days of no nesting and then multiple nests found on a single day or during a few consecutive days. This pattern occurs because Kemp’s ridleys often nest in synchronous emergences called arribadas, which usually occur on windy days.
Upcoming releases
So far this year, we have held 18 public releases, and we are hoping to hold the 19th release at 6:45 am on August 6. We are thrilled to report that the releases have been a big success this year. Hundreds of people attended each release and cheered on the turtles as they crawled towards the Gulf of Mexico and then swam away from shore. We are thrilled to see local residents at the releases, as well as the many people that traveled here from out of town. Each year, many people plan their vacations here around the chance to see a hatchling release. This is possible because we post the projected release dates for the nests on our website at www.nps.gov/pais when the nests are found. The projected release dates for each clutch encompass a 6-day-long window. These newborn turtles are released when they have emerged from their eggshells, are physically ready, and begin to become active. It can be harmful to release them too early or too late. So, we advise people traveling from out of town to try to attend a release when several clutches are due to hatch at the same time. This provides insurance so that if some hatchlings become active and must be released in the middle of the night, there is a larger chance that others are still available for a public release the next morning.
Between about August 7 and August 11, hatchlings from 7 of our last 11 Kemp’s ridley nests will be released. Because so many clutches will be hatching at once, we should be able to hold about 2 releases during that time, and hope that at least 1 of them will be during the August 9-10 weekend. Public releases will be less likely during the remainder of August. The last 4 Kemp’s ridley
nests found and brought to our incubation facility at the National Seashore this year will hatch between about August 12 and the end of August. Because so few nests will hatch at once and hatching will be spread over nearly three weeks it will be much more difficult to hold public releases for these nests. The one exception might be on August 15, 16, or 17 when 2 nests could potentially hatch at the same time. However, again, the much “better bet” for public releases is between about August 7 and August 11. Our public releases are held starting at 6:45 am, in front of the Malaquite Visitor Center at Padre Island National Seashore. No fee is charged to attend these releases. For information on the next upcoming release please call our Hatchling Hotline at (361) 949-7163 or check our Facebook page titled Padre Island NS Division of Sea Turtle Science & Recovery. As always, thank you very much for your assistance and support of our work to help save the world’s most critically endangered sea turtle species.
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Island Moon
August 7, 2014