Inside the Moon
Waco Witness Tells All A3
Potential Bull Shark Record A7
Father's Day on the Island A9
The
Issue 584
Island Moon
The voice of The Island since 1996
June 25, 2015
Around The Island By Dale Rankin
Powder Puff A11
Live Music A18
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Photo by Steve Coons
Fire in the Sky on the 4h of July
Statesboro Revue Returns for Third Year at 4th of July Parade Watch Party Viewing Areas
editor@islandmoon.com
Things are drying out a bit on our little sandbar. The water in our bar ditches has gone back to the sky or found its way to the sea. The high water marks along our beaches and roadways are notated by the flotsam and jetsam left behind. So far the wetter than usual season has kept tourist numbers down; down being a relative term. A count of cars coming down the Port A Runway (State Highway 361 for OTB readers) last Sunday morning found 1030 cars per hour jamming up the 361/ SPID/Commodores intersection. The JFK Causeway and ultimately the 361/SPID/Commodores nexus is the primary gateway for almost 100 miles of beaches from the Mansfield Channel to Port Aransas. As the state’s population grows so does our traffic load. The old crowded is the new normal.
Sanding Packery One of the side benefits of the wet weather we have had this year is it has deepened Packery Channel in two ways. First, the wet sand doesn’t blow into the channel which is a main cause of silting; and second, the outgoing rain water has taken with it 15,000 cubic yards of sand that was clogging the mouth of the channel, according to the people at Texas A&M CC who monitor the channel, during the period from September through April. More up to date figures are unavailable at this time but with the heavy spring rain that trend likely continued through the spring. Boaters report a depth of about ten feet at the mouth of the channel; less that the fourteen foot design depth, but plenty of water for pleasure boats.
Houses going up The Island is filling up with houses. According to numbers presented at the Padre Isles Property Owners Association meeting this week there are 79 waterfront homes currently under construction and 16 going up on dry lots. For the past several years there have been about 70 houses under construction at any given time, that number now is closer to 100.
Twenty percenters Officials from the local emergency management office made a presentation at the POA meeting and said that statistically speaking when a hurricane hits our shores and the order for mandatory evacuation goes out eighty percent of the people will leave but twenty percent will ignore all warnings and stay put. As our Island population approaches the 10,000 mark, we were 9200 in the 2010 census and have been building houses at a steady pace since, that means about 2000 souls will ride out the next Big One here on The Island. The last big evacuation was Hurricane Rita which hit the Upper Texas Coast and, according to the emergency management office, it was not problem getting people to leave because that storm was hot on the heels of Katrina which took out New Orleans and people had a healthy fear of storms. But in 1999 when the word to evacuate went out, unnecessarily as it turned out, many people ignored the warning and the power was turned out leaving them in the dark about where the storm was going. Anyone who lived in this area when Hurricane Celia came through won’t stick around when a storm is headed our way.
Thank you We want to send a thank you out to the Corpus Christi City Council who this week approved $169,000 to stop the foul order which has been emanating from the sewer pump station at Cruiser and Whitecap for
Around continued on A5
No Boat Traffic after 7pm
Island Blast
As we approach the 16th annual 4th of July Watercraft Parade and third annual Island Blast 4th of July Fireworks show the questions are turning to details; where to watch the fireworks and how to enter the parade. Here’s everything you need to know. First, for the third year in a row Island favorites the Statesboro Revue band will play the parade party at the judge’s stand at the homes of Harald Myers and Ann Weber at 13762 Three Fathoms Bank. The party spans three houses and decks and the public is invited to come early for the parade. Muster for the parade begins at 6 p.m. in the canal at the Padre Island Yacht Club and the parade kicks off at 7 p.m. from that location. The fireworks will be launched at 9:15 from the same location as in previous years, the vacant lot at the end of Whitecap between the Yacht Club and the Wastewater treatment plant. Some areas of the canals around the Yacht Club will be closed to boat traffic at 7 p.m. (see map) and the restricted area will be marked by buoys. Jerry Watkins who originated and manages the fireworks show said Wednesday that crews from the Flour Bluff Fire Department will attempt to burn the vegetation on the spoil island which caught fire during the fireworks show last year but are not sure it will burn due to recent rains and the resulting verdant growth. “If the firemen can’t burn it then the fireworks can’t either,” Watkins said. When Statesboro Revue first played the 4th of July party three years ago they were still in the beginning stages of their career, but now a short three
Statesboro Revue will play the parade party years later they have established themselves firmly in the Americana and Texas music scenes and their late announcement that they would return for the parade performance this year was due to their recent arrival back in the country after a two-month European tour; their third. Spectators may attend the show either by car from Three Fathoms or by boat in the main canal (just follow the music). It’s time for the Mother of All Deck Parties folks. We’ll see you there!
Launch Site
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A Flight in the Open Air
By Dale Rankin The first thing you notice when you settle into the front seat of the open cockpit of a Boeing Stearman Model 75 airplane is that you are not separated from your surrounding environment. Even in a small personal aircraft when you get in you are in a cocoon that insulates you from the rushing air and noise outside. In the Stearman you are at one with it. I went on a flight last Saturday with recently retired U.S.A.F. Major Jason Towns who flies this Stearman based out of T.P. McCampbell airport in Ingleside as part of the Texas Coastal Bend Squadron of the Third Coast Commemorative Air Force which recently opened a museum there. On this day we flew out of Mustang Beach Airport in Port Aransas. The Stearman Model 75 was used as a military trainer and more than 9700 of them were built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. It served as a primary trainer for the
USAAF, as a basic trainer for the Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force Kaydet throughout World War II. If you flew an airplane in World War II chances are your first time up was in a Stearman. After the conflict was over, thousands of thesurplus aircraft were sold on the civil market where they became popular as crop dusters and as sports planes. They are a conventional biplane with a large, fixed tailwheel undercarriage, seats for a student and instructor in open cockpits in tandem; the student, in
this case the passenger, sits in the front seat while the instructor is in the back. Both seats have a control stick and pedals which move in unison. A solo pilot sits the rear seat. During WWII there were long lines of Stearmans at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and they were a familiar sight in Island skies. Many Stearmans are painted yellow like this one after the Red Baron Stearman Squadron, N2S Known colloquially as the "Yellow Peril."
Wings continued on A6
A little Island history
Mystery of the Fate of German Submarine Which Attacked Local Ships Solved 72 Years After the Fact
Editor’s note: We received this note from Pat Richarde on our Facebook page, theislandmoonnewspaper, this week:
by more than one or two German submarines. Even if there is no evidence of any of them making a landfall here, it seems likely, given the small type of subs they were.
“There are at least two bunkers that still exist in the National Seashore, PINS. At least two, that is . . . maybe three as I recall it, but if so, the third one is outside of PINS, and although it’s been a few years since I've flown over them, I'm thinking it may be within the Kleberg property.
That is, that they would probably come ashore for water, some food, as in deer, squirrel, rabbit, and if it was summer, perhaps at least one or two of the previously far more plentiful, now endangered, Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle. But come to think of it, that would have required a daytime landing, as the KR's only go ashore during the daytime briefly, to lay a clutch of eggs.
They appear to have been mostly mounts for relatively heavy cannon, with crew berthing and ammunition space below, which also had machine gun-type narrow sideways windows. Regardless whether two or three, I was told by a very experienced old time local Texas law enforcement officer, who was continuing on as a similarly experienced federal PINS Ranger, that they were built during WWII, to defend this part of the coastal bend, from potential German attack, primarily. No one ever disputed that whatsoever and it seemed fully likely to me, as I read that our shoreline here was indeed visited
Above: The U-166 on the floor of the Gulf today
Regardless, summer or anytime else, the deer are very visible frequently on the shoreline or dunelines of PINS, even these days. I imagine they may have been at least equally as plentiful, back in 1943, or so. Here’s what we know Pat. We are not aware of any World War II era gun emplacements on PINS; we will continue to check. There was a bombing range on PINS during the war and a Coast Guard station around Mile Marker 41. The Navy and Coast Guard both patrolled local beaches to guard against German landings. There was a gun emplacement in Port Aransas in the dunes behind I.P.
Left: Admiral Jonathan Greenert awards the Legion of Merit award to Herbert Gordon Claudius Jr. on behalf of his father as commanding officer of PC-566 which sank the enemy submarine U-166. Magee Pier where the mounds of earth can still be seen. The guns had a range of two miles and were there to protect the entrance to the Aransas Pass. There is also the hulk of the
ship the Lady Ann which was torpedoed at sea and towed into the Lydia Ann Channel where she was scuttled.
History continued on A16
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Island Moon
June 25, 2015
June 25, 2015
Island Moon
Letters to the Editor
Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder
Beach cleanup July 11 The recent round of storms has deposited a huge amount of shore wash on the beach. Join us as we clean up the human mess left behind during the 4th of July and help clean this massive amount of shore wash on Saturday, July 11 at 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Burner Beach, 14414 State Highway 361. . There will be two groups. One group will start at the Northernmost set of Bollards at PINS and the other group will start by the Kleberg county sign. Everyone will meet up at the bowl when we are done.
Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker
Patrick Brown
Advertising
Burners Without Borders
Jan Park Rankin
Good Samaritan
Classifieds Arlene Ritley Production Manager Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox Mary Craft
About two weeks ago a very nice man and his wife helped my friend, after she fell off a curb while walking her dog on Whitecap. She would like to have their names so she could contact them and send them a little card to say thank you! She's doing well, but would like to express her appreciation for their kindness. If you will let me know their names and address, I'll pass it on. Thank you for being so sweet! Ada Beiter
Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner
Woman on the $10 bill
Chad Peters Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)
In answer to the question “What woman should be put on the new $10 bill” there are hundreds of American women that would qualify\. Emelia Earhart and Helen Keller as Betsy Ross, who made the first American flag are top runners. But if it came to a vote I think it would be a runoff between Rosie the Riveter and Eleanor Roosevelt, FDR’s wife, who was not only for women’s rights but civil rights as well. As a Red Cross volunteer during WWII she visited and personally talked to hundred and hundreds of wounded soldiers and sailors overseas in hospitals in the South Pacific. Eleanor was a morale booster, “Extraordinaire,” despite a Republican Congress that opposed her “war efforts.”
Padre Island Teen By Elizabeth Clark All the teens on the island and around the world are preparing for their futures. Some of us feel puzzled and even rushed to find a college or get a boyfriend/girlfriend… but you’re allowed to be confused about the future. I keep worrying about waiting until the last minute to plan a career that will make me successful; but I just remind myself that there are so many success stories of people who changed their career six or seven times, who divorced, and who even got D’s in school. Everything will fall in place if you try your best and have fun while you’re still young. So don’t sweat it. Try to focus on the here and now, and when an opportunity comes along, take it. As George W. Bush said in his SMU commencement speech, “For those of you graduating with high honors and distinctions, well done. And as I like to tell the C students—You, too, can be President.” Try to focus on the here and now, and when an opportunity comes along, take it. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, email me at PadreIslandTeen@ gmail.com.
Eyewitness to Waco Biker Shootout Tells His Story to Houston Chronicle
From Facebook
Bulkhead Repair
Publisher 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 14646 Compass, Suite 3 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
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Claudia Stoneburner Estep I had the very same thing happen. More and more people are going to be having this problem as the screens are all reaching the end of their "natural life span". Had anyone thought ahead, way back when, nothing should have been allowed to be built within 6"-12" of the bulkhead so that repairs could be made to the bulkhead and screens. I would suggest not repouring the concrete, but instead put down a strip of paver stones between the cement decking and the bulkhead cap. this allows you to see when a washout occurs again, and it will allow for easy removal and then easy replacement the next time repairs need to be made. Another tip is to insist that they replace every single screen at every single weep hole. Otherwise, the screens not replaced now will need replacing in the next few months/year when they finally wear out...and that means having to tear everything up all over again. Nita Smith If you choose to concrete to the bulkhead they have no choice. They have to take it out to get to the seams and the tie backs that hold the bulkhead up. Tamay Tipton I thought it was the POA's responsibility to repair bulkheads? Ann Vanderpool Take water hose and some of that cheap plastic corrugated sheets jet it down behind the bulkhead using the bulkhead as support. It'll stop erosion. 6' panels will jet down with ease. Joseph Farah PIPOA pays for repairs to communally owned POA property. They don't pay for repairs to privately owned property, like the land-owner's side of the bulkhead. And frankly, I don't know any property owners who would want their POA money to repair another privately owned property owner’s property. Pat Richarde
Liquid Town Whataburger on Waldron
Fire Station Police Station Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
More than a month after the biker shootout in Waco that left nine people dead the Houston Chronicle this week published the most detailed eyewitness account of the melee so far. It comes from the son of an officer in the biker gang the Cossacks named Diesel who was shot twice in the head during the fight and killed. Of the nine people killed in the shootout seven were Cossacks who brought fists to a gunfight. According to Cody Ledbetter, as quoted in the Chronicle, it all began over a bottom rocker patch. Ledbetter, a Hyundai mechanic by day and a Cossack by night, says the Cossacks had been wearing the patch, a curved patch which says Texas, on the bottom of their vests since August and believed they had the permission of the Bandidos to do so because of the Cossacks’ long history which dates to 1969. The meeting at the Twin Peaks bar and grill on the outskirts of Waco was attended by 63 Cossacks and their supporters who arrived first. Ledbetter told the Chronicle they believed they were there for a sit down with the Bandidos to hash out the bottom rocker patch problem. According to Ledbetter when the Bandidos arrived there were only eleven of them and they were not on bikes but in pickup trucks. But soon, he says, the farm clubs for the Bandidos began rolling in on bikes with their leather and red and gold patches. There were too many to count. As told to the Chronicle when he saw the newcomers Ledbetter said, “We’re done.” As one of the arriving bikers began riding across the parking lot a provisional Cossack named Cliff who was so new to the group he didn’t even have a nickname, was standing in the parking lot and one of the bikers ran over his foot. Diesel, Ledbetter, and another Cossack named Big O jumped from the patio and confronted the bike rider who said he ran over Cliff’s foot because it was in his way. From there, according to Ledbetter’s account, things escalated quickly. Big O and the other biker agreed to settle their dispute after the meeting but another member of the arriving group, claiming his leader had been disrespected, threw a punch at a Cossack named Chain. Chain punched back and the other biker whipped out a handgun and shot Chain in the chest. He was the first to die. “He brought a gun to a fistfight,” Ledbetter was quoted as saying. The Cossacks, who were mostly unarmed ran for cover including Diesel who dove between two bikes and a biker wearing a vest with the name of a club which starts, according to Ledbetter with the letters “VA” stood over him and said, “Take this,” and fired two shots into the back of his head. At that point Ledbetter said the shooting went general as police, who were there in force, Bandidos, and one Cossack named Sidetrack opened fire. Sidetrack was shot and killed immediately, then a Cossack named Dog was shot by the same man who shot Diesel. Another Cossack named Rattlecan was shot four times, Cliff, the prospect too green to have a nickname, was shot in the spine and is now paralyzed from the waist down. Cossacks named Country and Red Bull were shot next, Country in the jaw and Red Bull in the neck. Cossack Voodoo began performing CPR as the bullets flew, bandanas were stuffed in bullet holes to stop bleeding. When things calmed down police confiscated 151 guns from the scene, suspects were rounded up and many placed under $1 million bond, some later reduced, the lawyers arrived, the American Civil Liberties Union got involved and police continue to figure out who shot who.
Ethyl Everly Senior Center
Kite Cam Photo by Steve Coons
New Advertisers Home For Sale by Owner on Main Canal has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living areas, two dining areas, spacious two car garage and electric hurricane shutters on all windows and doors. This 4011 sq ft home is located at 13738 Three Fathoms Bank Drive and is priced at $900,000. Call 5499901 for an appointment. See ad on page A6 to view photos. Keller Williams Island Properties is having an open house at 12 of their listings this Sunday, June 28th 2 – 4 pm. The homes are priced from $259,700 to $732,500. Look for the listings in their ad or visit www. PadreIslandRealEstate.com. Realtor Frankie Hicks has great marketing skills and a long history of sales. She can help you stage your home for a virtual tour. If you are re-locating she can help you locate the right agent. She is located at Coldwell Banker 5034 Holly Road and can be reached at 549-9901. Zumba in the Sand starts this Saturday, June 27th 8:15 – 9 am at Michael Ellis Beach & Seawall. For more info email beatsatthebeach@gmail.com
Business Briefs The Shops at Old Town in Port A are presenting Market Day on Saturday, June 27th 11 am – 3 pm. Popsicle Toes, Saltwater Gypsies, Uptown Salon, Island Made Art, The Hidden Wardrobe, Fishtales, Jodees and Bows will be participating. There will be trunk shows and guest vendors. They are located at 345 N. Alister..
Church Unlimited now has Kids Unlimited with children’s ministries for groups from birth to 5th grade. Check out their website to register your child.
Bobbie Kimbrell
We need some help or direction. The weep holes in our bulkhead are bad and our cement decking has dropped all along our frontage. The cement decking has dropped about 2” in these areas, so we know we have lost quite a bit of dirt/sand also. The POA has sent people out and confirmed they are bad and need replacing. That replacement is scheduled, but here is the dilemma. They have to cut into and remove an area of cement for each weep hole. We are thinking there are about 8 to 10 of these. They have told us that if we want them to repair the cement damage it will cost us $200 per hole. Question: Has anyone else had this problem and what was your outcome?
by Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com or @padreeyelander on twitter
The Dragonfly’s Party Room can accommodate up to 40 guests and any type of menu can be created for your budget. Call 949-2274 to reserve your party.
Rosie the Riveter would come in a strong third.
Riley P. Dog
Did Ya Hear?
A3
And according to Ledbetter it all started over a bottom rocker patch.
The Corpus Christi Police Department will be offering community events on some of the Saturdays this summer 1 pm – 3 pm at the Police Island Substation on Zahn Road. On June 27th there will be Coastal & Aquatic Wildlife Education, on July 11th Boaters Safety Class, July 25th Water Safety Class and on August 8th Basic CPR for beginners. Kody’s Restaurant has prime rib every Wednesday and mini golf for family fun every day. They serve seafood steaks salads and burger and have a full bar. This is the place if you want a late night snack since their kitchen does not close until 1 am. The 80th Annual Deep Sea Fishing Tournament in Port A will be held July 9 – 12. The tournament began as the Tarpon Roundup in 1932 and has grown from a handful of fishing guides to the largest family tournament in Texas drawing more than 800 contestants. When you are out of town you can still keep up with the Moon news by going to The Island Moon Newspaper on Facebook. You do not need to be a member of Facebook to access. The weekly issue is posted every Thursday.
From Facebook
Anything to the bacteria scare of the beaches? Ocean waters update: Many fans of ocean swimming have been calling the park today concerned about news reports of high bacteria counts in the waters near Galveston, TX (about 250 miles NE) and wondering if this problem is down the coast as well. We wanted to let the public know that there have been no reports of bacteria count problems near the beaches of Padre Island National Seashore. Happy (and safe) swimming to you all. To find out more for your local Texas beaches check out the following website: http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/tx.asp Kaye Zuber Worden Padre Island National Seashore
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A4
Schlitterbahn
June 25, 2015
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LIVE MUSIC ALL SUMMER LONG VISIT BLACKMARLINPORTA.COM FOR THE FULL LINEUP AND TICKETS. homesites • condominiums • luxury homes 877.977.9874 • palmillabeach.com We are in compliance with Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. We have not, and will not, either directly or indirectly, discriminate against you or any other prospective purchaser on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. This is not an offer to sell, or solicitation of offers to buy condominium units in states where such offer of solicitation cannot be made.
L O C AT E D I N PA L M I L L A B E A C H R E S O R T & G O L F C L U B 258 SNAPDRAGON, PORT ARANSAS, TEXAS 78373
June 25, 2015
A5
Island Moon
Port A Happenings
Interval Training: Offered by Parks and Recreation with Personal Trainer Karen Decker at 7am in the Girl Scout hut inside Parks and Recreation building on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. Work out at your own pace. Cost is $3 a class or $30 for 15 classes. Cash or check made out to COPA [City of Port Aransas]. Open to men and women...just another way to stay healthy.
Community Park Pool Summer Schedule 700 Clark Pkwy, 361-749-2416. Pool is closed on Mondays. Water Exercise: Tue-Fri Noon - $2 per class. Open Swim: Tue thru Sun …1-6 pm. Lap Swim/Exercise: Tue thru Fri…7:30 am to 6 pm except during sailing & kayaking lessons; Sat & Sun…Noon to 6 pm. Deep Water Aerobics: Wednesdays & Fridays, 1am, with belts to hold you up. Total Body Aquacize: Tue & Thu at 7:30am & Sat at 12 pm with AAAI Water Aerobics instructor Sally Jo Bartlett. Air Mattress Pile On: Saturday, June 13, 6:30-8:30pm, see who stays on longest. Regular admission Water Wackiness: Saturday, June 20, 6:30-8:30pm, fun and games in pool. Regular admission Cast Net Class: Friday, June 26, 11am-noon, Ages 9 & up, Learn to use a cast net. Must use net provided. $5 Pizza Night: Saturday, June 27, 6:30-8:30pm, 1 piece of pizza & pool fun with regular admission
Summer kid activities For kids or kids at heart. 5 and older may be dropped off. Under 5 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost $2. Adults welcome to stay & play at no charge. 6/23, Tuesday, 2-4pm, Bubble wrap painting. Girl Scout hut, $2 6/25, Thursday, 2-4pm, Halloween fun – dress up or make costume here. Girl Scout hut, $2 6/30, Tuesday, 2-4pm, Chillin’ It: Kool-Aid fun, Girl Scout hut, FREE
Birding on the Boardwalk Guided birding tour for anyone, novice to expert. Every Wednesday at 9 am at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center at end of Ross Ave, with local guide Nan Dietert FREE! Table Top Gaming: Offered by Parks and Recreation for age 16 and up in the Girl Scout hut inside Parks and Recreation building on Friday and Saturday nights. Pathfinder role-playing games at no charge from 4:30pm to 12am.
Baylor Expert: Mosquito Populations at ‘All-Time High’; ‘High Threat’ for West Nile Virus
Fireworks Safety Tips for For Your Four-Legged Family Members Food. Fireworks. Fun. That’s the scenario for millions of people that celebrate US Independence Day on July 4th, one of the year’s liveliest holidays.
Professor offers eight tips to protect against West Nile
Unfortunately, for pets that get frightened during the festivities, it can be anything but a celebration. Driven by a fearful reaction to fireworks and other loud sights and sounds, dogs and cats that flee from their homes often end up in municipal animal shelters.
In Texas, May turned out to be the wettest month on record as Central Texas slogged through 25 consecutive days of rain, while state rainfall totals reached an astonishing 35 trillion gallons. Those heavy rainfalls have not only affected communities across Texas but have significantly impacted mosquito populations.
“Nationwide, July 4th weekend is the busiest shelter intake time of the year. So, while many of us are celebrating a holiday, the shelters will be flooded with pets, many of which will never find their way home,” said Gregory Castle, chief executive officer of Best Friends Animal Society. “In order to avoid this heartbreaking scenario, we encourage owners to make the holiday as safe as possible for their pets.”
“Mosquito populations are at all-time high levels because of the recent rains,” said Richard Duhrkopf, Ph.D., regional director for the national American Mosquito Control Association and associate professor of biology in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences.
Best Friends Animal Society offers the following tips to help keep your pets safe over the holiday weekend:
“The rains last month have given us larger populations than I have seen in a long time. The rains from Tropical Depression Bill will keep those populations active,” Duhrkopf said.
• Bring all pets indoors whenever neighborhood fireworks displays are likely. Secure dogs in a room and play music or turn on the television to drown out the frightening sounds.
(Find this story on our website at www.baylor.edu/news.)
• Keep pets away from lit fireworks at all times, including your own backyard, as some will chase after the bright moving objects and are at risk to be burned or blinded in the process.
With the increase of mosquito populations comes the threat of West Nile Virus. Although it is impossible to predict the occurrence of West Nile, Duhrkopf said, current weather conditions may be conducive for the spread of the disease.
• Ensure that pets are wearing current identification tags. • For the ultimate identification protection, all pets should be microchipped so that they can scanned at an animal shelter or veterinary office.
“You never can predict how things will go, but conditions are setting up for serious disease transmission,” Duhrkopf said. Duhrkopf said that mosquitoes typically infected with West Nile need very dirty water, and the excess rain might provide that opportunity.
• If your pet does go missing over the holiday, check with local animal shelters immediately. Go to the shelter in person to identify your pet, rather than calling or emailing the shelter, as staff may not be able to respond in a timely enough fashion to ensure your pet’s safety.
“The mosquitoes that transmit West Nile tend to breed in foul water. When you have rains like this, the foul water tends to get washed away. So, the incidence of West Nile actually goes down,” Duhrkopf said. “However, as the season progresses, the water tends to pool and get stagnant. That is when we see the increase in West Nile Virus. The sheer numbers of mosquitoes right now make the threat highly likely.”
To maximize lifesaving efforts in July, Best Friends Animal Society is hosting a national “Celebrate Freedom” adoption campaign at its facilities in LA and Salt Lake City, as well as through its more than 1,100 No More Homeless Pets Network Partners across the country.
Even with the increased threat for West Nile Virus, Duhrkopf said there are simple steps that can help with mosquito abatement. He offers the following “8 Tips to Protect Against West Nile Virus:”
For the month of July, adoption fees will start at just $25. (For more information about participating organizations near you, visit bestfriends.org.
Do…
Kite Camera
1. Get rid of temporary standing water 2. Reduce breeding around permanent standing water
Photos by Steve Coons
3. Keep artificial containers clean
Yoga on the Beach Nancy Myers will conduct a session Saturday, June 13, starting at 8 am, next to Horace Caldwell Pier at end of Beach St. This event is held the 2nd Saturday of each month. Be on time, as leader will take class to an inside location if weather is bad. FREE! Beach Walk
4. Dry up natural containers Don't… 5. Be outside around dusk and dawn 6. Let general household maintenance slide 7. Wear clothes that expose your skin
Join guide Shirley Fischer on Port A's beaches to hunt for treasures! Meet on Friday, June 26, at 9 am under purple pennant near Horace Caldwell Pier at end of Beach St. [4th Friday of month] FREE!
8. Go out without wearing repellents
Kemp’s Ridley Turtle Count
Around continued from A1 the past decade or so. There is no schedule so far on when the work will be done, but at long last the problem has been addressed and that’s a good thing. So take heart fellow Islanders olfactory salvation is on the way. In the meantime when you drive down Whitecap roll up your windows and hold your nose.
Local knowledge One of our functions here at the Word Factory is to provide our readers with local knowledge; you know like don’t feed the seagulls. Useful stuff. So here is some. Those of us who have been around here for a while have at one time or another jumped on a jet ski and run out to a passing shrimp boat to barter for some fresh shrimp. The common currency in the past between landlubbers and shrimpers, who are mostly from the Valley or from up north around Palacios who spend two to three weeks at a time out there, has been beer. But in the past decade or so as the makeup of the shrimping industry has changed boaters now report that the vast majority of shrimpers are not consumers of alcohol and won’t trade for beer. We’re not sure what kind of a world it is where shrimpers don’t drink beer but apparently that’s what we got. The new preferred commodities, according to our friend Harald who knows such things, are eggs, chickens, steaks and watermelon. These days about the only thing we got less of than shrimpers is eggs, but we still got plenty of watermelons and even if they are hard to carry under your arm as you blast through the waves on a jet ski they are still easier than eggs or chickens. So we got that going for us. Another bit of local knowledge is that if you go to the beach in Kleberg County where there is no law enforcement you may see things that will send you searching for your Buck knife to poke out your one good eye. We made a sojourn down Kleberg way on Tuesday and the count was six homesteaders and four naked men. We got this picture of one naked fellow fishing in the surf.
So far this year, 153 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state): 5 Bolivar Peninsula 3 Galveston Island 0 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside 1 Surfside Beach 0 Quintana Beach 2 Bryan Beach 0 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach 0 Sargent Beach 3 Matagorda Peninsula 0 Matagorda Island 0 San Jose Island 3 Mustang Island
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GIFTS CERTIFICATES AVALIABLE We put the box on there to save your eyes in case your Buck knife is handy. And yes, that’s Bob Hall Pier in the background. You’ve been warned folks.
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A6
June 25, 2015
Island Moon
Wings continued from A1 Distinctive growl The radial engine in this plane is uncowled and produces a distinctive growl which once recognized identifies the plane as a Stearman even without a visual. As you taxi down the runway the second reminder you are in a different type of aircraft is that you can’t see the ground in front of you; the Stearman is a tail-dragger and as the engine roars to life and you shoot down the runway the tail rises and the scenery around you immediately opens up. It is a different type of flying experience. Once the wheels are up you can feel the drag produced by
the undercarriage and duel wings which create more drag than you feel in other small, single-wing craft. The plane, at least to the untrained rider, seems more susceptible to changes in wind direction and velocity than other small craft. Even though the plane is light, about the same weight as a car, it is surprisingly slow to respond to the stick; but once it does and you dive and roll it is easy to feel like the Red Baron himself. We didn’t do any rolls or loops but even a slight dive at about 100 miles per hour with the horizon right in your line of sight and the wind in your ears is enough to get the heart pumping. You are out there with the elements. Most of my non-commercial flying has been in the small single-engine planes my father owned and in news helicopters. The helicopter flies like a bumble bee; you feel like you are suspended in a gondola under the disc of the swirling blades. In the small closed cockpit planes you feel like you are encapsulated in a shell riding on top of an airframe.
them. Everything around you is right there as part of your environment. It’s sort of like skydiving only without the falling part. It’s the closest thing to sprouting wings on your back I have experienced. One of the first things Jason pointed out is that in an open cockpit people on the ground can see you. As we blasted down the beach past Fish Pass and over Padre Island we waved at the people on the beach who waved back. Try that in a closed cockpit. If you like to fly and have never been aloft in an open cockpit I think you will find it a very different experience. This Stearman is available for rides out of Mustang Beach Airport through Jason’s skydive operation, Skydive South Texas, at 361 945-5867, and the money goes to help keep the Commemorative Air Force in the air. Prices for the flights vary but are affordable.
In the Stearman I got the feeling we were plowing air; the power of the engine overcoming the heavy drag. I must admit a bit of trepidation as we rose from the runway and cleared the highlines along the highway and climbed out over the Gulf. I am a fairly experience flyer but I caught myself whiteknuckling the side of the cockpit as the stiff Gulf breeze buffeted us about like a Styrofoam cup. But after I got used to the feel and nature of the open cockpit I must say, this is the way to fly.
The best way I can describe the experience is the way sailors often explain their voyages; the journey ends when you leave the dock; whether you are flying over the beach, Laguna, open Gulf, or the houses on Padre Island it’s the journey that counts, not the destination. Do yourself a favor and give it a try.
Not only do you get a view of the ground without looking through a windshield, you are up there with the birds and as we flew over the highlines I couldn’t help but feel like I could reach down and grab
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June 25, 2015
A7
Island Moon
Backwater Adventures On the Rocks
Footprints in the Sand By Joey Farah Farah’s Fishing Adventures
Big smiles and easy limits still preside over the upper Laguna Madre for anglers that are using live croaker.
By Jay Gardner & Aaron Baxter Well folks, this is a good one, and you’re hearing it here (almost) first, that the bull shark record set by Randall Rickerson of 515 lbs. and 108” long may have fallen recently. Father and son David and Zach Crain were surf fishing on Matagorda this past weekend and caught a sea monster. They had been fishing hard all weekend, and had caught 5 nice sharks on frozen bait. David finally caught some fresh bait (a gafftop) and Zach paddled a chunk of it out, and was returning from running the second chunk out when the first one went off! He could see that line was dumping off the first reel, and basically lept off the speeding kayak and ran immediately to the reel. He had to get help of course from his dad to get a fighting belt and harness on, but an hour later of tug-of-war from the sand, he finally made some ground. Initially the shark dumped over 450 yards of 100 lb test, and then repeated that several times. They finally landed the behemoth and started taking their measurements, and preparing the shark for tagging and releasing. David and Zach (along with Ashlee) are Team Sharkaholics on the Texas Shark Rodeo Tournament.
The Sharkaholics are currently in 7th place, but this latest catch may bump them up a notch or two in the standings. Then again, competition is as fierce between the contestants as the sharks themselves. David also has another noteworthy shark story; one of the bull sharks he tagged was later recaptured, which may be the first in Texas as far as I know. You loyal readers know how much we like recaptures in the TSR. The shark finning and wasted-sharks-industry that is continuing to this day down in Playa Bagdad just across the border is putting our coastal
Of course you all know that the Texas Shark Rodeo (TSR) was re-instated by the good folks that brought you Sharkathon. TSR came out of Zach Crain with a potential new bull shark record the chute hot last year on their inaugural run, but this year the contestants are tagging and releasing sharks like no effort I’ve ever seen. In shark populations in peril. Conservation efforts 2014, there were a total of 709 sharks tagged in by everyone involved, from the CSSC, CCAthe nine-month long event. As of this writing Texas, TSR, and Sharkathon are hopefully in late June, they already have 636 sharks helping curb the mass destruction. But more tagged. I bet that they beat last years total easily help is needed in this arena. by the end of July, with the best (the fall and At the last CCA-Texas State meeting, we Sharkathon) ahead of them. What a deal! received a presentation from the USCG Being barely able to move the shark between the two men, they took measurements, tagged the fish, and it took both of them to get it back out into the surf for release. As they wrote down their data, someone on the beach looked up what was the current bull shark record, and they had surpassed it by ¾ of an inch! They had beaten the current record! Crazy! Zach is no stranger to tagging and releasing sharks. He was recently hired on at the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation (CSSC) headed up by our buddy Dr. Greg Stunz. Remember the CSSC was initially funded by CCA-Texas (and others such as TPWD). One of the first “tasks” that Zach had to do at his new job was to go out with Dr. Matt Ajemian
High tides will push trout to group up around the main channels and humps out in the open bay.
and catch, satellite tag, and release 4 sharks in a day. In addition, Zach has also picked some of the samples from Cedar Bayou, which the CSSC is also monitoring in part by a donation from CCA-Texas.
regarding the launchas illegally fishing Texas and US waters from Mexico. Seems there are around 1,700 incursions into US waters every year, but they only intercept around 17 of these incursions (10%). When they do, their boats are seized, and the fishermen deported. However, the penalties must not be very stiff, as one of the captains has been caught and deported 15 times! The madness needs to stop. Well, congrats to Zach and David Crain on their enormous Fathers Day weekend bull shark. We’ll see if TPWD acknowledges it as a catch and release record or not, but in any event, what a beast! Drop me a line at jaygardner@ scientist.com and I’m going to try to head south this weekend, if so, I’ll see you On the Rocks!
Paddlesports America Class Taught by Coast Guard Auxiliary
Makenzie Richter with a nice afternoon trout along the king ranch shoreline.
Kayakers and Canoeists Learn More About Their Boats By Brent Rourk Local kayakers and canoeists, both novice or experienced, have a tremendous opportunity to take a Paddlesports America Class about their boats and water safety. All recreational boaters who use kayaks and canoes are urged to signup for the 6 hour class which will be held from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 27th at CBRAC, 1201 Laguna Shores, Corpus Christi, Texas 78418.
Madison Richter with her first two salt water fish ever! High winds have got fish on the bite in the afternoon. Anchoring up off Tyne now of your boat will keep the noise and crashing waves to a minimum.
Big trout have been very skittish but we have been catching some hogs. Use caution when approaching your area and keep your noise level low. This fish came from CLOSE TO HOME.
Contact Lee Tallas at 361-765-3969 or at etallas@stx.rr.com or Walter Lass at 512-2043150. The cost of the class is $25 and includes materials. Be a safer and more knowledgeable paddlesport operator and sign up for the class today.
This Paddlesports America Class, taught by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, will cover the following topics: Knowing your paddlecraft and its characteristics Filing a float plan Predeparture checks Loading your gear Storing your paddle craft Operating your boat safely Learning about the waterways Legal requirements of boating Equipment Boating emergencies
Moon Phases
Tides of the Week Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) June 25- July 1, 2015
Tom Williams and friends pulled a great stringer of fish from the shallow beaches of the king ranch shoreline this week. Water conditions have been great and so has the fishing.
Watch out there are some giant hard heads along the King Ranch, wade fishermen should use caution.
Flounder are still thick in the Packery area and the land cut. Small baitfish are the best bait.
Local anglers are catching great redfish drifting with gold spoons in the shallow flats. Fast retrieve will send vibrations out across the shallows.
Day
High /Low
Th F Sa Su M Tu W
25 25 25 26 26 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 1 1
Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low
Tide Time
2:04 AM 9:34 AM 5:42 PM 3:17 AM 5:45 AM 9:45 AM 6:10 PM 3:28 AM 6:41 PM 3:57 AM 7:14 PM 4:29 AM 7:50 PM 5:01 AM 8:27 PM 5:35 AM 9:08 PM
0.7 1.1 0.2 1.0 0.9 1.1 0.0 1.2 -0.2 1.4 -0.3 1.5 -0.5 1.6 -0.6 1.7 -0.6
Height in Feet
6:35 AM 8:28 PM
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
Set 1:54 AM Rise 2:39 PM
53
6:35 AM Set 2:29 AM 8:28 PM Rise 3:31 PM
63
6:36 AM 8:28 PM 6:36 AM 8:28 PM 6:36 AM 8:28 PM 6:37 AM 8:28 PM 6:37 AM 8:28 PM
72
Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise
3:07 AM 4:25 PM 3:47 AM 5:20 PM 4:32 AM 6:16 PM 5:22 AM 7:13 PM 6:16 AM 8:08 PM
80 87 93 98
Moon Visible
A8
June 25, 2015
Island Moon
SPORTS Sports Talk
Alex Rodriguez at No. 3,000, With Bullet and Asterisk
By Dotson Lewis
Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s Note: I believe it was no surprise, even to the causal baseball fan, that A-Rod got his 3000th hit in Ruthian fashion. It was a looping line drive home run. My questions: 1) What record will he break next and 2) Does he have any chance to be inducted into The Baseball Hall of Fame? My thanks to sports writer Tyler Kepner, for many of the facts contained in this article.
or so, sitting out basically two years, to play as well as he has played,” Manager Joe Girardi said. “But he worked hard. He never stopped believing in himself that he could do this.” The moment was also punctuated by awkwardness, a hallmark of a career in which little seems to ever go smoothly. A-Rod smiled as the ball cleared the fence, then extended his hand to the first base coach, Tony Pena, who was positioned far from him, A-Rod slapped the air as he rounded first, anyway. The Yankees did not greet him at the plate, but they emerged from the dugout and met him on the dirt warning track in front of it. A-Rod, the designated hitter, said he was “very emotional” as he collected himself in the clubhouse after the homer. Teammates congratulated him after his 3000th hit, but the Yankees’ bullpen did not empty, as it did for Jeter in 2011.
A-Rod’s 3,000th hit was a first-pitch, firstinning home run at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. He joined the 3,000-hit club in style on Friday at Yankee Stadium, in a familiar scene with a much different character in the starring role. Derek Jeter, the Yankees’ revered former captain, had been the last player to reach 3,000 hits, doing so in 2011 with a home run. Rodriguez, whose place in baseball history will always be complicated by his use of performance-enhancing drugs, also homered Friday for his milestone hit in a 7-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
This time, the Tigers did not applaud. “If it hadn’t been a home run, you probably would’ve seen some people clapping,” Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus said. “I think we were more miffed about the run being scored. It wasn’t a knock on A-Rod. It was a great achievement. Had it been a single, we probably would’ve gave him a nice golf clap.” Rodriguez said he noticed some Tigers tipping their caps to him from the dugout the next time he came to bat. He was touched, he said, when Miguel Cabrera made the effort to hug him on the field after the game. “Twenty years from now, that’s really what I’ll take away,” he said. A-Rod has fashioned an unforgettable career that stretches to 1994, when he debuted for the Seattle Mariners at age 18, a year after graduating high school. Then, he was a skinny shortstop batting ninth in the lineup at Fenway Park, his first hit an infield dribbler off Sergio Valdez of the Boston Red Sox.
A-Rod Pointed to His Girls & Blew Kisses On the first pitch he saw in the first inning, A-Rod drove a 95-mile-an-hour fastball from Justin Verlander over the right-center-field fence. It seemed at first to be a lazy fly ball, but carried quickly as it sailed over the outfield grass. The right fielder, J. D. Martinez, backed abruptly into the scoreboard as he gave chase, running out of room as the ball landed several rows behind him. Rodriguez pointed to his two daughters and blew them kisses after crossing the plate with his 667th career home run. Jeter and Wade Boggs are the only others to homer for their 3,000th career hit, but while Jeter got the ball back from the fan who caught it, Rodriguez did not.
Rodriguez with his teammate C. C. Sabathia on Friday after his 3,000th hit.
His 3,000th hit was different in every way, much like the man himself. Rodriguez chose to tarnish a legacy that could have ranked among the greatest ever. But he has returned to reach milestones while still, improbably, going strong. “Everything about this year has been a surprise,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve never enjoyed the game as much as I have this year.”
Southpaw By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon By most estimates, “lefties” make up between 10 to 15 percent of the general population, but the number of elite left-handed hitters and pitchers in baseball has always been much higher than that. So, what’s going on here? Did you know that by the end of the 2014 season, 21 of the top 40 career home-run leaders in Major League Baseball were left-handed or switch hitters. Fifteen of the top 25 leaders in career batting average are also left-handed. Name the player with the most career home runs; yes, that would be Barry Bonds. The highest career batting average goes to Ty Cobb, and the most career doubles to Tris Speaker; all left handed. Of the 108 Cy Young Awards won from 1956 to date, 36 pitchers were left-handed. Fifty-eight left handers or switch hitters out of 147 have won the MVP Award since 1931. Do the names “Babe” Ruth, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, “Shoeless Joe” Jackson, Stan Musial, Carl Yastrzemski, “Yogi” Berra, or Duke Snider sound familiar? How about George Brett, Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, Lou Brock or Reggie Jackson? Throw in switch hitters like Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray and you begin to get the picture? They all batted left handed. Oh, by the way, Ken Griffey, Jr., will soon join this group. Left-handed twirlers in the Hall of Fame also read like a Who’s Who. Warren Spahn, Sandy Koufax, Steve Carlton, Randy Johnson, Whitey Ford, “Lefty” Gomez and maybe the greatest left-hander of them all, “Lefty” Grove, create quite a list. All-in-all, of the 244 players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, 87 have been left-handed. Throughout baseball history, left-handed hitters have batted seven to ten points higher than right-handed hitters. Why? Some think the short porches in most right fields of many parks make a nice target for left-handed hitters. Others think that lefties have an advantage because they are one or two steps closer to first base coming out of the batter’s box. Remember Mickey Mantle made his way to first base in a record 3.1 seconds. Left-handers primarily pitched and played in the outfield or at first base for defensive purposes. That means they face mostly right-handed pitching. Is there an advantage there? I don’t think there’s one correct answer. As for the term “southpaw” it was first used in print, regarding baseball, on September 12, 1858. It originated from the fact that home plate and the pitcher’s mound were always laid out east to the west which meant all lefthanded pitchers faced west and threw with their southern most arm or their south “paw.” This layout kept the sun out of the batter’s eyes and
the fans eyes that paid for more expensive seats behind home plate. Unfortunately, this also meant that the sun would beat down on the cheapest seats in centerfield, which became known as bleaching boards or later, the “bleachers.” Today’s game is not without its list of terrific left-handers. Position players like Joey Votto, Adrian Gonzalez, Joc Pederson, Bryce Harper, David Ortiz, Robinson Cano, Prince Fielder, Carlos Gonzalez and Josh Hamilton can hit the ball out of the park. On the bump, you can find outstanding southpaws like David Price, Clayton Kershaw, Chris Sale, Jon Lester, Madison Bumgarner and C.C. Sabathia, on a nightly basis. If that has not already made you crazy, we now have a kid who can pitch with either hand. His name is Pat Venditte and he pitches for the Oakland Athletes. Yes, he is ambidextrous and has to declare before each pitch which arm he will use to throw to home plate. This allows the batter to decide which side of home plate he will bat from. As far as catching the ball, he has a glove with two thumbs, so he can use it for either hand. Have you ever wondered what Bill Russell, Bob Lanier, Willis Reed, Dave Cowan, Billy Cunningham, Bill Walton, and Artis Gilmore have in common? You guessed it; they’re all lefthanded Hall-of-Fame basketball players. So are David Robinson and Chris Mullin. As for lefthanded quarterbacks, there are a few who stand out. The names, Steve Young, Ken Stabler, Jim Zorn and “Boomer” Esiason may ring a bell. Marvin Haggler and Joe Frazier were great left-handed boxers, and John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova served tennis balls from the left side. Hockey greats, Wayne Gretzky and Phil Esposito, used backward sticks. Pele and Phil Mickelson are names you should also recognize. Even though the list above is filled with magnificent players from many sports, there is no doubt that left-handers dominant the game of baseball like no other sport. Andy Purvis is a local author and radio personality. His newest book “Greatness Continued” in now available to order online at bn.com, Amazon, Google Books, Bookamillion, etc. You may also purchase all three of his latest books at the local Barnes & Noble Book store in Moore Plaza. All three books are also available in e-book format, Kindle, Nook, Apple I Pad and Kobo. Please visit www.purvisbooks. com for more info and leave a message in the guest section. You may also contact him at purvis.andy@mygrande.net and don’t forget to listen to Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session each Thursday night from 6-8 PM on ESPN 1440 KEYS.
A-Rod with ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis (left), daughters, Ella and Natasha, & Girlfriend Torrie Wilson. Dotson’s Other Note: Friday night's plate umpire, Ed Hickox, coincidentally was behind the plate for A-Rod's first hit. “21 years apart?" Hickox asked about an hour before the game. "I was aware he was a prospect for Seattle when he got the hit, but that's all we knew then." Your comments, suggestions, questions and concerns regarding “Moon Sports Talk” are appreciated. Call the Benchwarmers 361560-5397 weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 3-6 p.m. or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com
The fan, Zack Hample, who claims to have caught more than 8,000 game and practice balls at major league stadiums, has refused to give it up. “The thing I was thinking about is: ‘Where’s Jeet’s guy, the guy that caught the ball?’ ” A-Rod said, to laughter at his postgame news conference. “That’s the guy I needed here. Where’s that guy? I wasn’t so lucky.”
Southpaw Sandy Kofax
A-Rod, who is locked in a dispute with the Yankees over a $6 million bonus tied to his 660th homer, was all smiles afterward. The Steinbrenner family congratulated him via the Yankees’ official Twitter account, and scoreboard messages saluted the accomplishment. After becoming the 29th player to reach the 3,000 mark, A-Rod took a brief curtain call, raising his helmet and waving. For all the controversy he has caused in his career, he has been on his best behavior this season, giving the impression that he has been chastened by the yearlong drug suspension he served last season, after an ugly legal battle. “I’m grateful,” A-Rod said. “I’m extremely appreciative to the Yankees for giving me an opportunity to put the uniform back on. There were days last year I never thought I would sometimes get that uniform back on, to be able to play in this stadium in front of these fans. And for that I’m thankful to the Steinbrenner family.” A-Rod admitted in 2009 to using steroids when he played for the Texas Rangers. He asked then for fans to judge him from that day forward, but began using banned drugs again the very next season, lying repeatedly and even suing the Players’ Association, among others. Yet production on the field, and a contrite persona off it, seem to have won back many Yankees fans. He has been a force offensively, with a .277 average, 13 home runs and 35 runs batted in. His on-base percentage, .382, is the best on the roster. “I think this would be an awful lot to ask of a player that was 39 ½, he’ll be 40 in a month
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June 25, 2015
A9
Island Moon
Fathers Day on the Island
Shahed Ghoghawala and his sons, Gabriel and Zachary, at Schlitterban Joe Levandowski
Joe Gazin with his son Will
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Cameron came down from Houston with his family to spend Father's Day on the Island
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Jay Gardner took his dad fishing on fathers day
Jerry Watkins with his girls
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Jack Russel 5 Years Old Neutered Fully Vaccinated Trifexis Protected Dr. Kresser’s Patient Responsible Owner - Taylor Resides on the Island, Corpus Christi
Go To padrevet.com For Coupons Must present coupon at time of drop-off
Animal Hospital of Padre Island 14802 Compass (361) 949-8200
A10
Island Moon
June 25, 2015