Issue 558
FREE
The
Island Moon
Free
Weekly The voice of The Island since 1996
December 24, 2014 The only Island in Texas with more parks than traffic lights
Around The Island By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com
Things have been slowing down on our little sandbar this week as we head into the holiday season and wind down toward the New Year so we’re going to keep it short.
Photo by Sharon Watkins
Happy HOlidays! SPID Traffic Light Moves Through City Committee
The first day of winter arrived on Sunday but you wouldn’t know it by the weather around here. As of this writing a Blue Northern is headed our way but compared to last year folks, we got nothing to complain about weather wise; the fall this year came in like a lamb compared to last year’s roaring lion. Water temps are still warm for this time of year and our beaches have been beautiful of late.
By Dale Rankin
A few early bird Winter Texans have arrived and we saw this bumper sticker on a car from the Upper Midwest on one of them.
The City of Corpus Christi’s Traffic Advisory Committee heard testimony this week about the proposed traffic light at the SPID/Aquarius intersection but did not make a recommendation. The city staff said they are still negotiating with the developer.
Stuff I Heard on the Island
What’s Going on at Schlitterbahn?
By Dale Rankin
Thanks for the warning ma’am. We’ll see everybody at the Beltsander Races. In the meantime have a Merry Christmas everybody, don’t forget to get a present for your dog friends so they don’t feel left out, and say hello if you see us Around The Island.
Perfect Fit
Meet The Islanders’ Coach By Andy Purvis He moves with long deliberate strides that tell you he knows where he is headed. A great smile and eyes that sparkle; he puts you at ease quickly. This guy loves basketball. His first words may have been the “Big O” and “Wilt.” In a crowd, he appears more comfortable than an old baseball cap. He is intelligent, gives credit to everyone but himself, and is a fine speaker. Some say he could draw a crowd at the North Pole. He’s a guy that doesn’t mind showing you the way to success; it remains up to us to
Coach Wilson and Andy Purvis follow. He knows we only get a short amount of time to be great at what we want to do, so he does not waste time. He understands that sometimes greatness is about struggle not victory. It’s about finding out what’s inside, the reason for being who you are. He also knows that regardless of the score, there is always time to coach. Shooting free throws with this guy for ten minutes will teach you more about him than 15 years of sitting at a desk across from him. He’s a fine man, good husband, great father, trusted friend and a basketball coach. A teacher in tennis shoes, Willis Wilson is the perfect fit for Islander basketball.
Character, Toughness, and Talent The first time I met Willis Wilson was at the 2011 NCAA Final Four. Where else would you meet one of the most respected basketball coaches in the land? Interestingly, Willis, the newly-named Head Coach of the Texas A&M--Corpus Christi Islanders, was introduced to me by the Islanders’ original coach, Ronnie Arrow. We shook hands, spoke for a minute, and made plans to connect later back in Corpus Christi. I grew up in ACC country and, like Willis,
Purvis continued on A8
The San Antonio real estate firm of Turner Busby Development owns nine acres on the east side of SPID at the location and plans to build
Light continued on A4
As I have made the rounds of Island holiday parties this Christmas season the most common question I have heard is what you see printed above: “What’s going on at Schlitterbahn?
Inside the Moon
I have refrained from writing about it because I have been awaiting the resolution of events going on behind the scenes that I know will sooner or later get straightened out and my intent was to wait until that happens to say anything. But as time has gone by the stories have gotten wilder and
Schlitterbahn continued on A8
La Posada A2
Message in a bottle
Thanks for Saving My Life Forgive Me for Borrowing Your Husband
By Ronnie Narmour It has the makings of one of those melodramas on the Lifetime Network. A rescue at sea, a shared lover named Rondo, grandkids, an ocean cruise, and finally a hopeful, poignant ending of forgiveness that has everyone living happily ever after. All that's missing is a little organ music and a picture of Fabio with his hair blowing in the breeze. It’s all contained in three somewhat cryptic handwritten pages on stationary from Carnival Cruise Lines and tossed overboard somewhere at sea fourteen months ago that fate delivered to the beach in Port Aransas.
Seashore A3
It all started when Winter Texan Sue Woodard, from Decatur, Illinois was taking her regular beach walk near Mile Marker 60 the other day with her Jack Russell Terrier named Dottie when she noticed something unusual. There on the sand, next to a Styrofoam float and a patch of Sargassum weed was a peculiar looking bottle with something inside.
Fishing A7
Message continued on A9
A little Island history
When German U-Boats Roamed the Gulf The legend of U-166 and Mexican gold
By Dale Rankin It was the summer of 1942 and the German Kliegsmarine was out to sink American shipping in the waters off the Texas Coast. U-166 had laid her mines off the coast near the mouth of the Mississippi River where she had recently sunk the freighter Herida and the tanker McKelvy off Mississippi Pass and had then damaged a liberty ship within sight of the sea buoy at Galveston. She headed west in the Gulf and was now off Port Lavaca working the shipping lanes headed east out of the Port of Corpus Christi in only ten fathoms of water; barely enough to submerge a 240 foot U-boat. In water that shallow she could dive but would likely be visible from a reconnaissance airplane. Why an experienced U-boat captain like the one onboard U-166 would be
Sports A8
in such shallow water has fed the mystery. Hunting in the Gulf Just after dark the Mexican liner Oaxaca cleared Pass Cavalla and rounded Decros Point eastbound with general cargo and caustic soda. She passed the Naval Air Station and headed out to sea. Less than ten miles offshore she took a torpedo from U-166 and went to the bottom. The captain of U-166 then ran east back toward the more fertile hunting grounds of New Orleans. On August 1 she was running in a calm sea when at 1:30 p.m. a Coast Guard aircraft piloted by Henry C. White was patrolling its assigned area sixty miles off the Louisiana coast near the wrecks of the Herida and McKelvy. From 1500 feet White caught sight of U-166 rolling on the surface. He banked to circle toward
Port A Christmas Parade A11
Deck gun on U-166 wreck the sub’s stern in the manner American pilots were taught to use when attacking German submarines but as he circled the boat began to
History continued on A5
Christmas in Korea A12
A2
December 24, 2014
Island Moon
2014 La Posada Lighted Boat Parade
Island Jewelers GO
Don't Sell Your Gold or Silver!
To Island Jewelers
Let's Make Something New Together!
30% Off Catalog Sales! On-Site Repair Watch Repair Watch Batteries Ring Sizing Link Adjustment Starting at $15 Loma Alta Plaza • Next to Scuttlebutts Open Tuesday - Friday 11-6, Saturday 11-5
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December 24, 2014
Island Moon
Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder
Letters to the Editor Port Aransas Passes a Plastic Bag Ban In a bold move to help clean up their community, Port Aransas’ City Council voted 5-1 last week in favor of a plastic bag ban ordinance. A voluntary ban will begin on January 1, 2015, followed by a mandatory ban starting on January 1, 2016. Port Aransas joins 10 other Texas cities, 2 states and over 20 countries that have decided to regulate plastic shopping bags because of the infrastructure, fiscal and environmental problems that they cause.
Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker
The Port Aransas ordinance aims to reduce the number of plastic checkout bags littering the beaches, streets and surrounding waters in the city. Bags used to hold bait, seafood and other raw foods are exempted in the ordinance.
Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox Mary Craft t Christiansen
Of all the residents who spoke at Council meetings leading up to vote, perhaps Tony Amos spoke with the most authority. As a prominent researcher at the UT Marine Science Institute and director of the Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK), he described the sad experience of finding injured or dead birds and marine animals that have eaten or been entangled in plastic bags. One change the Council made in the draft ordinance before passage was the removal of a clause allowing compostable plastic bags to be given out in place of disposable ones. Their reasoning was the lack of evidence on whether such bags will degrade when in sand dunes or underwater.
Jay Gardner Chad Peters Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk
We applaud the Port Aransas Council members and hope that leaders in other Coastal Bend cities will follow their example.
Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)
Skip the Plastic is a program of the local Surfrider Foundation chapter. Surfrider Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the world’s oceans and beaches clean and accessible to the public.
Publisher
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
by Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com or @padreeyelander on twitter
How are you today? Please can you confirm this to us before we make a mistake, somebody called me today with this number 706-9255615 saying that he is your brother, he said that you pass away 3 days ago, and before this happened you asked him to receive the funds on your behalf. He forwarded his address for us to send the ATM Master Card worth the sum of $1million USD direct to him.
Sandy’s Dining on the Beach at the Holiday Inn presents a New Year’s Celebration that includes hors d’oeuvres, champagne toast, breakfast buffet and live music. Tickets are $25 pre-pay and $35 at the door. The room rates start at $69. Call 9498041 ext 115 to make your reservation.
1121 Odena RD S Sylacauga, AL - Alabama 35150 But we are not sure about this. So that is why i am writing to know if this is true or not. Regarding the fee $250 usd which you are supposed to send earlier, I tried to let him know of the required fee he said that i should give him information to send the $250usd so that we can update the delivery and then send the Universal ATM Card to him since you are no longer alive The credited $1million Universal ATM card fund is not something we could just make any silly mistake about by sending it to the wrong person because the money is huge amount of money $1,000,000.00 so this claimer is causing complicating incident regarding the delivery of the Universal ATM Card, because it is boldly clearly stated in the content of his email to me that you are dead. I am sending this mail to you to find out the truth before i authorize delivery of the card to the claimer. I told the man to give me 2days to think about it. The man said that his name is Mr. Larry Phillips he is from Alabama. So am sending this message to confirm the truth but if i don't hear from anyone in the next 2days i will collect the $250usd from him and hand over everything to him. Looking forward to hearing from you, before I will authorize the shipment of the card to his door step. Best Regard. Barrister Sidney Costa
Skip The Plastic
Dear Mr. Costa,
So while the CC Metro Planning Organization called for a light at this intersection in 2011 the city did not think it was necessary until a developer dangled the carrot of more ratables (more tax revenue) in front of them.
Dale Rankin About the Island Moon
THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS:
Neil McQueen
Traffic Light
Riley P. Dog
Almost a Millionaire...
If ratables are the golden ticket for our community, please explain to me how the hundreds of millions of dollars ($100,000,000.00s) of commercial growth in our city has not only led to a massive increase in our appraisals but more importantly a large increase in our TAX rate. The mayor and council seems to feel that growth is the answer to all of the problems in our city but it appears the only thing really fueling the wheels is more and more of our tax money.
I am sorry to inform you I unable to send the $250 fee in order to collect the $1 million USD since I passed away three days ago.
Thefts There were vehicle break-ins in the parking lot at Palm Bay Village Sunday night. At least three vehicles were broken into. The vandals are using some type of device to open the locked doors. Please be vigilant, especially during the holidays. Bonny Grigsby
Every vote in our city on spending and tax rates has been 9-0, so let no one suggest they have dissented from the supporting the same morass of tax and spending overwhelming our society. Lastly, how could ANY of these traffic studies have taken into account the Island's huge growth just in the last 12-18 months which does not even include the unknown affect of Schlitterbahn. Howard Ludlow
Where to Find The Island Moon Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant
Sandpiper Condos 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
Snoopy’s Pier 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
Holiday Inn Jesse’s Liquor Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant Subway
Chamber of Commerce
Island Tire
Duckworth Antiques
And all Moon retail advertisers
Back Porch
WB Liquor
Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place
Flour Bluff
Giggity’s
H.E.B.
Stripes @ Cotter & Station
Liquid Town
Gratitude Gift Shop Keepers Pier House Port A Glass Studio The Gaff
Palo Seco
Send letters to the editor to editor@islandmoon.com
WB Liquors
Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station Police Station Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
Frozen at Seashore The 2014 Seashore Learning Center Winter Tea featured a "Frozen" theme, with singing from all grade levels, live and silent auctions of student artwork, and dousing of the "human hot dog" with ketchup and mustard. The auction, the campus's biggest fundraiser, brought in over $20,000. Each classroom created a piece for live auction, with kinder students recreating Monet paintings, Mod II students making fish prints, and Mod II students fashioning sea-themed mosaics. Each year the SLC director issues a challenge to students during the December Book Fair, and students once again rose to the occasion. Because their class read the most minutes outside of school, 6,439, Mrs. Pam Manganello's class sprayed Director Maria Thompson with ketchup and mustard at the conclusion of the Winter Tea. Seashore Middle Academy students also celebrated the season with their Winter Music Performance, featuring nearly 120 5th and 6th graders as well as a few solos and duets.
Did Ya Hear?
A3
Business Briefs The Blue Angels “Wings over South Texas” air show will be returning here April 18th and 19th. The show was last here four years ago. The Boathouse Bar & Grill has gift certificates available for you last minute shoppers. If you buy a $100 gift card you get a $25 one free. On Sundays they have an all you can eat Brunch Buffet for $15 10 am – 2 pm with $2 mimosas and $4 Bloody Marys. Dragonfly Restaurant will be serving a special four course New Year’s Eve Menu for $40/person. The menu includes salmon tartare, seafood crepe served with lobster sauce, roasted lamb shank and baked Alaska. Call 949-2224 for reservations. The Medicare Band will not be playing at Sharkey’s in Port A this year and are looking for a new gig. The Port A Rockers will be entertaining the Winter Texans again this year at Bernie’s on Wednesdays. The Medical Center has the quadrivalent flu vaccine available. For medical visits there is no appointment necessary Monday – Thursday and appointments are necessary for Friday and Saturday. Call 949-1900. Corpest is the oldest Island based pest control company with over 30 years experience. Call Bill Schroeder at 949-0208. Doc’s Seafood & Steaks has six lunch items every weekday for $6.99 and happy hour 11 am – 7 pm. Check out their blackboard for the daily specials. Enjoy live music on the weekends. The perfect spot to take your out of town guests to enjoy dinner and a sunset over the water. Scuttlebutt’s will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to allow their staff to enjoy time with their families. The Rockaholics will be entertaining there on New Year’s Eve. Trash and recycle pick up for those who normally have it on Friday will remain the same during the holidays Island Jewelers has overnight delivery available on catalog items. They are located next to Scuttlebutt’s.
A4
Days of Year
Light continued from A1
December 24, 2014
Island Moon
Last Big Brush Fire One Year Ago
Slide 5: 2012 Annual Average Hourly Volumes by Day of the Week *Hourly distribution taken from highest summer days in 2007 and increased to meet highest hourly volumes from 2012 2012 Hourly Traffic Volumes for Highest Days of the Year 50,000 square feet of retail space, and a restaurant. Traffic Engineer, Gilmer Gaston, was hired by them to study traffic patterns at the site and determine the viability of placing a light there. “There is a study from the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Planning Organization done in 2010 which calls for a light at the intersection,” District 4 City Councilwoman Colleen McIntyre said. Barring unexpected action by the city All data from TxDOT permanent count station report for station S161 Average Hourly Traffic Volumes by 2012 Annual council the light is expected to be in place by summer 2015. As part of his report Day of the Week Gaston generated the following numbers a $30 million development called Packery for Island traffic. Pointe which would include a 101 room motel
This week marks the one-year anniversary of The Island’s last major brush fire (unless you count the one caused by the July 4 fireworks which only burned a spoil island so it doesn’t count). It was caused by a 24-year-old man who drove his vehicle onto private property off Sea Pines where the catalytic converter sparked the fire that burned more than 100 acres of land and the man’s vehicle. No houses were destroyed but it was touch and go for a while. We’ve been lucky so far this year, but there is still a lot of time for the winter breeze to dry out the brush, just waiting for a spark.
Photos by JB Manning
Padre Island's Only Bar & Grill on the Beach ~ Bob Hall Pier • Padre Balli Park ~
Happy Hour Daily 3-7
Shrimp Boil Every Wednesday! NOVEMBER 2014
Open for Breakfast Saturday & Sunday 7 am
Live Music on Weekends
JOIN US AS WE REDISCOVER THE TRUE STORY OF CHRISTMAS! Pastor Bil and Jessica Cornelius invite you to join us at Church Unlimited this Christmas season as we experience the story of Christ’s birth in a brand new way! Bring your friends and family for a community-wide celebration you don’t want to miss! PADRE ISLAND CAMPUS CHRISTMAS SERVICE TIMES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24TH 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM JOIN US THIS WEEKEND FOR OUR REGULAR SERVICE TIMES AT 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM & 11:30 AM CHURCH UNLIMITED • Padre Island Campus 15205 SPID, SUITE 200 • Corpus Christi, TX 78418 WeAreChurchUnlimited.com
December 24, 2014
History continued from A1
A5
Island Moon
Letters to Riley
Dear Riley P., Have you noticed the lack of proper attire has become the norm here on the Island? Seriously, my great grandmother LoLa has more style in her ohhhhh ....ummmmm.. So, as any really good DOG reported would do. I hit the street in search of dog clothes. The beautiful RoseAnn, the most beautiful hooman in the village, just happens to work at the C and G Sisters Boutique. This is where I began my search.
Side-scan sonar image of U-166 at the bottom of the Gulf submerge. White broke off his bank and roared straight in, diving at 50 degrees at the sub’s beam and releasing his bomb at fifty feet. The sub’s conning tower was submerged but still visible from the air and the bomb detonated directly over its top. White circled and saw patches of black oil oozing up. A short time later two Army planes flew over the scene and directed surface craft to the site which confirmed by soundings that the U-boat had been sunk. White received the Distinguished Flying Cross and his radio operator the Air Medal. U-166 went down with all hands and that, it seems, would be that. End of story.
The legend begins But there were some unusual facts surrounding the sinking: First off why would the captain surface his boat in broad daylight? If a malfunction forced him to the surface before dark then how could he dive when the plane approached? And why was in only sixty feet of water where even submerged a sub would be visible from the air? There were stories aplenty about secret rendezvous with trawlers operating from Louisiana that supplied U-boats with fresh bread and vegetables and picked up spies for delivery to the boats. Later testimony at the Nuremburg trials confirms at least one attempt to land agents at Galveston. It was always rumored but never proven that U-boats operating in the Gulf were re-supplied in Mexico, a country which has always had a substantial German population. There were several reports of German spies parked along country roads near White Point in the back of Nueces Bay monitoring shipping movements out of the Port of Corpus Christi. Then there is the fact that there is a gap of fourteen days in the movement of U-166 shortly before her sinking that have never been accounted for even after American intelligence gained access to German naval records after the war. All that taken together is enough to be the stuff of legend but that just leads to the most
intriguing part of the story, and like most great Texas legends it involves gold.
A whole lot of gold It is one of the most well-documented cases of stashed gold in Texas lore and involves twenty tons of gold bullion worth tens of millions of dollars. In the 1930’s a group of financiers in Mexico bought huge quantities of gold with the intention of reselling it to the U.S. Government after the U.S. had gone off the gold standard when the price of gold was expected to jump by thirty percent. The treasure was smuggled across the border and hidden in West Texas. But then the U.S. Government made it illegal to possess gold and the government refused to negotiate with the owners of the gold leaving them with a large cache of illegal gold and no one to buy it. Enter World War II and the Nazi regime. They were interested in buying but it is said they were reluctant due to the location of the gold in the U.S. and the deal was never officially consummated. After the war numerous attempts to find the gold turned up nothing but West Texas dust and finally a salvage group looking to find U-166 in the 1970’s made inquires to the Coast Guard. The answer; the boat was “suspected of trading with Mexico.” When you add that to the fourteen days missing from the U-166 log, twenty tons of gold, and a German U boat inexplicably running on the surface in sixty feet of water in broad daylight you get a real Texas tale.
Looking thru their window I could not see anything even slightly resembling canine contour. Everything in this store looks like it goes on hooman bodies Having no luck finding my new Hawaiian shirt. Or the little sun dress i wanted to get my sweetheart (her name is Money) .I ventured inside and was met by a lovely woman that was ever so helpful. Except for the fact that she does not have any dog clothes. Ma asked her if she knew where we could find any dog clothes. She just shook her head no. However, She did agree to "seriously think about" stocking some items just for me, and a few sundresses for my Money girl.(As she is the most beautiful little golden morsel of a doggie on the Island )Her Mom is named Deb. And she says " Money is very very dangerous, people don't realize how many really big dogs she has single handedly killed. She even killed a full grown, 200 lb Great Dane. She said Money is so tiny she gets suck in their throat. Yes, The Beautiful Blond Vixen know as Money's Mom, is the Village comedian. She keeps Curlee's Villagers in stitches. She is loved by one and all. Especially me.
In closing My Dear Friend, if you know where to get doggie clothes on the Island please share it with me, fur is out this season. Sincerely, BillyJack (Reporting for the Island Moon) Dear BillyJack, Be careful what you asked for. My humans got me a sweater and boy is it ugly. They tried to take my picture with it but I ran away. If I catch any of you Stooped Cats laughing at me you’ll be sorry. Stooped Cats! Stooped Humans! Stooped Sweater! Merry Christmas everybody…send hotdogs…International Falls…
U-166 went down at 28.47N by 90.45W, about forty miles off the Louisiana coast an expedition visited the site in 2004 and took photographs of the U-166’s 20mm and 37mm guns but due to expense the wreck has never been salvaged. And what of the Mexican gold? It may have been smuggled back into Mexico, or it may still be buried somewhere in the sands of West Texas along with Maximilian’s treasure, or maybe it’s waiting in the hold of U-166 somewhere on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Thus the legend of U-166.
TO RILEY P. DOG, THE ISLAND MOON
The First Mighty Blast From The Island Hideout Dear Riley, For the record, I must bring something of the utmost importance to your attention, just in case something dreadful happens. You see, by the time International Falls, MN receives the hot dog in a box marked “Flammable” as you requested, Henry the sea gull and I will be close to embarking on an offshore adventure. This is huge.
U-166 deck gun
The Island Moon T-Shirts The Island Looks So Good On You! Get yours for only $10.95 plus shipping and handling. Shirts come in grey or white short sleeve T-Shirts sizes L. XL and XXL. Tank Tops come in Aqua and White in sizes Medium and Large.
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To order by phone, call 361-949-7700. To order by mail please send your checks made payable to:
J. Park, The Island Moon, 14493 S.P.I.D., PMB 220, Corpus Christi, Tx 78418.
We now have Gluten Free Pizza!
LIVE MUSIC
Thursday John Eric, Friday Brian Winfrey Saturday, Ruben Limas
♥ Reservations Recommended ♥
Happy Hour M-F 4-6 pm Starting Nov 24 2.00 dom 3.00 import 3.00 glass wine 7.00 1/2 carafes 14.00 carafes of wine. Special appetizer menu Changes Weekly with select items available only during happy hour
Hours: Mon- Thurs 11 AM - 9:30 PM Fri - Sat 11 AM - 10 PM Sun 5-9:30 PM 15370 SPID (Just south of Whitecap) 949-7737
The southern flock has brought aboard three highly intelligent dolphins as “locators” to work amongst its crew on The Flammable Hotdog Project boat. The goal: find as many of the estimated 30 million pounds of “live” military bombs and chemical weapons that have been reflexively discarded and currently lying on the Gulf of Mexico sea bed, sell this valuable information to the U.S. government, one or all of the Gulf States or… to one of the many oil conglomerate and or chemical companies. I must say, Henry is in “seventh heaven” at this precise moment and particularly driven by his latest brainstorm. Furthermore, he’s also convinced that these “groups” would much prefer to protect their interest and possibly a large portion of our population, then risk losing it all with one giant…snap. Additionally, he’s hopeful to secure the necessary funds through this masterful plan to save the planet no later than the end of the first quarter next year. The other creatures on staff are ecstatic about how well everything’s going however; I’m
apprehensive and hold on to some serious reservation. I will not beat around the bush Riley and must express my concern that Henry is drinking entirely too much. He’s also flapping his beak around the island and seriously jeopardizing the entire quest; his thinking has skewed so “far to the left” from our original conversation on the beach last week that it may be too late to repair the damage. There is certainly division now, even amongst the higher power optimists in the community; our organization just cannot weather this kind of bad publicity and something must be done. In short, Henry has created more risk than necessary. In any event, I did not sleep well last night. I had three very distressful nightmares and would appreciate consul from a well-known and trusted hotdog expert such as you before moving forward with this little “adventure” with flipper and the sea gulls. Regards, Tony Romano Station Street, Rear Blue Hideout Port Aransas Dear Tony, Live bombs and chemical weapons on the sea floor don’t bother me much Tony. But drunken sea gulls; that’s where I get off the boat.
A6
December 24, 2014
Island Moon
Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest Opens
Former Port Aransas City Councilman Appointed to Fill Unexpired Term
Top prize: United Airline tickets, Royal Caribbean Cruise and a class trip to Schlitterbahn
The Port Aransas City Council voted in its regular meeting on Thursday, December 18 to appoint Frederic J. “Rick” Pratt to the seat vacated by Place 1 Council Member Robert “Bob” Petitt was elected in the May 2013 General Election to the Place 1 council seat which is set to expire in May, 2015. The City Council formally accepted Mr. Petitt’s resignation which was received on November 20 before appointing his replacement.
Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is calling for entries in the 19th annual Adopt-A-Beach “Treasures of the Texas Coast” Children’s Art Contest. The deadline to submit artwork is Tuesday, March 3.” “Many little Texans never get to go to the beach, but this contest is an easy way to help teach them about the natural beauty of the Texas coast,” Patterson said. “If we want future generations to protect this treasure it’s essential they learn why it’s worth protecting.” Commissioner-elect George P. Bush — who takes office on Jan. 2 — will select the grand prize winner. This year's grand prize winner will receive two round-trip coach-class tickets from United Airlines to any United destination in the 48 contiguous United States, one 7-night Caribbean cruise from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines departing out of Galveston, Miami, or Ft. Lauderdale, and a class party at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels. The grand prize winner's teacher will also receive two roundtrip coach-class tickets from United Airlines, and one 7-night Caribbean cruise courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruises. Ten winners will be chosen from each of four grade-level categories (K – 2nd, 3rd – 4th, 5th, and 6th). One grand prize winner will be chosen from among the 40 finalists. All 40 winners will receive a ticket to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, two all-day passes to Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, two tickets to the Burke Baker Planetarium at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a certificate of recognition and prizes from the Texas General Land Office and a calendar displaying the winning artwork. Winning artwork will appear together in a 2016 calendar, which will be distributed across the state. State Rep. Greg Bonnen has even sponsored a display of the winning artwork at the Capitol from May 19 to May 26. The Adopt-A-Beach “Treasures of the Texas Coast” Children’s Art Contest began in 1996 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Adopt-A-Beach Program. The annual competition encourages Texas schoolchildren to learn more about the Texas coast and express what they’ve learned through their art. Open to students in grades K-6 across Texas, the contest motivates thousands of young artists each year. Artwork must be displayed on a plain sheet of white 8 ½-inch by 11-inch paper and can be in any medium except computer generated. Three-dimensional art or artwork displaying logos, product brands and/or store names is ineligible. Only one entry per student is allowed, and all entries must have a completed parental release form taped to the back. Parental release forms may be printed from the Land Office website located at www.texasadoptabeach.org. Each contest entry must be postmarked by Tuesday, March 3, 2015, and submitted on an 8 ½-inch by 11-inch sheet of white paper. Students are encouraged to color copy their artwork prior to sending it in because all artwork submitted becomes property of the Texas General Land Office and cannot be returned. This year’s contest sponsors are Royal Caribbean International, United Airlines, Schlitterbahn Waterparks, the Texas State Aquarium, the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. For more information and contest guidelines on the “Treasures of the Texas Coast” 2015 Children’s Art Contest, please contact the General Land Office at 1-877-TXCOAST or visit our website at http://www.texasadoptabeach.org.
Blue Angles Returning in 2015 The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will be returning to the South Texas skies in 2015 as the feature act for the "Wings Over South Texas 2015" air show April 18 and 19, aboard Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. "We're excited to be hosting the air show in 2015 featuring the Navy's Blue Angels," said Capt. Steve Banta, commanding officer of NAS Corpus Christi. "It's been four years since the Blues have flown over the Corpus Christi skies and we are looking forward to them being the feature act of our show. "We view our air show as an air station-and-community event," Banta said, "celebrating not only NAS Corpus Christi's role in training Naval Aviators, but also the unmatched support the Corpus Christi community provides us."
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Stage 2 Drought Contingency Measures Continues The City of Corpus Christi reminds residents and customers the city remains in Stage 2 of the Drought Contingency Plan. Even with recent rains, there has not been enough rainfall to refillLake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon to change the drought stage. Stage 2 conservation measures were initiated on July 28th and continue to be in place. Those measures include: 1) Sprinkler irrigation limited to one day per week, the designated watering day is on the customer’s garbage pickup day; 2) Car washing is limited to designated watering day, except at a commercial car wash. Fundraising car washes need a permit; 3) Hand-held and drip irrigation is allowed any time.
Mr. Pratt previously served on the city council after being elected in 2005, 2007 and 2009. He also served as Mayor ProTem during his previous term of office. He will assume the duties of his office prior to the January 15, 2015 meeting.
Violations of these provisions may result in citations up to $500 per day. Additional information is available at www.cctexas. com/water or by contacting the Water Hot Line at (361) 8261600.
Mr. Pratt joins Mayor Keith McMullin, Mayor Pro-Tem Steven Lanoux, Council Member Beverly Bolner, Council Member Glenda Balentine, Council Member Charles Bujan, and Council Member Edwin Myers, Place 5. This is the 2nd appointment council has made this year after the resignation of Skipper Lister. The Place 1, 3 and 5 city council positions are set to expire in May 2015.
27th Annual Port Aransas Tour of Homes January 31
Marine Science Center Studying Antarctic Seals
The Port Aransas Garden Club will host its 27th annual Port Aransas Tour of Homes on Mustang Island Saturday January 31, 2015. The tour originates from the Port Aransas Community Center at 408 N. Alister Street Port Aransas, TX. 78373.
The University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas is trying to get inside the mind of seals who live under the ice in Antarctica.
Come visit the beach and enjoy a “Glimpse of Island Life.” From island resort properties to cottages with historical significance you will visit homes showing off island living at its best with remodeled and new construction exemplifying life in the Coastal Bend
Weddell seals routinely dive for 20 minutes at a time and travel up to a mile from where they started before returning to their breathing hole in the ice covered waters of Antarctica. How they find that breathing hole from such distances is the subject of a new research project at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. Dr. Lee Fuiman and colleagues just returned from a nine-week research trip in Antarctica where they conducted carefully designed field experiments to test their hypothesis that the seals navigate underwater using Earth’s magnetic field, much as homing pigeons do. No marine mammals are known to be able to detect magnetic fields, so their research has the potential for new and important discoveries.
The Port Aransas Home Tour is one of few remaining tours offering a ‘bus tour party’ in the morning and a self-guided tour in the afternoon. Our bus tours at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, leaves the driving to the professionals and allows the exceptionally knowledgeable, verbose Garden Club members to guide you on your journey and provide a world of information and entertainment along the way. Four homes and a casita will be on the morning bus tours. Any guest, who takes a morning tour, is welcome to return on the afternoon self-guided tour to see the remaining homes not included in the morning tour. Your $25.00 ticket covers the bus tour and the self-guided tour making it an all day excursion. Relax, sit back and enjoy the semi-narrated, sometimes hilarious antics of the PAGC’s Cruise Staff while “the wheels on the bus go ‘round and ‘round. . . “ The bus agenda provides plenty of time to see the town and explore the fine shops and restaurants.
The multi-year project will be conducted at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, and is funded by the National Science Foundation. The project is a collaboration with colleagues at Texas A&M University – Galveston, University of California – Santa Cruz, and the University of Auckland. Dr. Fuiman is not new to Antarctic research and the start of the project was his eight year conducting research on the ice.
Our self-guided tour is from 1:00 – 5:00 P.M. with nine homes for your viewing pleasure. A map and brochure is provided to keep you on the path to our wonderful homes which you will receive when checking in at the Community Center located at 400 North Alister. Each home will have hostesses/hosts answering your questions about the historical and decorating significance. The self-guided tour ticket is $20.00
OxyChem and Mexichem Announce Construction is Underway on their Joint Venture Ethylene Cracker Project in Ingleside
Bus tours and self-guided tickets can be purchased at Mustang Island Art Gallery, 2222 Hwy 361 and Gratitude, 316 N. Station Street after December 15. Tickets can be purchased via our website www.PortAransasGardenClub.org using PayPal or on tour day at the Port Aransas Community Center. Bus tour tickets are limited to 90 per each tour, self-guided are unlimited. For ticket information call 361-813-2508 or email portagardenclub@hotmail.com. Follow us at our website www. PortAransasGardenClub.org and our Facebook page Port Aransas Home Tour and our blog portaransasgardenclubhometour. blogspot.com. For all other information contact Virginia Moser, chairperson, at 361-834-4130.Tickets, refreshments, raffle and silent auction items will be available at the Community Center during tour hours with doors opening at 8:30 AM. PAGC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible. PAGC is a member of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce, KPAB, and the Corpus Christi Garden Council.
Editor’s note: Development around the Port of Corpus Christi is expected to bring more than $20 billion in new construction to the Port area in the next few years. Most of that new investment is already under contact, design, or construction, and much of it, as much as $16 billion will be in the Ingleside, Portland, Gregory, area on the north shore of Corpus Christi Bay. We run the following statement from the company verbatim because, well, frankly, we don’t feel comfortable re-writing anything with the term “Ethylene Cracker” in it. Ingleside Ethylene, LLC, the 50/50 joint venture between Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem), a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY), and Mexichem, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV:MEXCHEM), has announced that construction of its ethylene cracker at OxyChem’s Ingleside, Texas, complex is underway and the project remains on schedule to become commercially operational in the first quarter of 2017.
PORT ARANSAS COMMUNITY THEATRE
Calendar of Events
Senior management from both companies and Texas Land Commissioner-elect George P. Bush participated in a ceremony to celebrate the symbolic groundbreaking of the new ethylene cracker. Construction of the cracker began in the second quarter of 2014. When completed it will have
Gift of the Magi
December 11-13 and 18-20 7:30pm December 14 and 21 2:30pm
A classic one-act play of the true meaning of Christmas. Admission $10 all seats
Golf Cart Christmas Caroling December 22
the capacity to produce 1.2 billion pounds (550,000 cubic meters) of ethylene per year and provide OxyChem with an ongoing source of ethylene for manufacturing vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), which Mexichem will use to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC resin) and PVC piping systems. The project will create approximately 1,700 jobs at peak construction and generate more than 150 permanent jobs. OxyChem will operate the cracker upon completion.
6:30pm
Golf carts are provided. Starts at PACT Theatre with cookies and hot chocolate...no charge.
Christmas Movie Night December 23 2pm to 2am
A fun night of your favorite Christmas movies.. Come for one or two or stay for all of them. Check the schedule in the Jetty or on portaransascommunitytheatre.com Refreshments available for sale...no admission charge.
Sin, Sex and the CIA
January 8-10, 15-17 and 22-24 7:30pm January 11, 18 and 25 2:30pm
A rib-splitting comedy about a CIA agent...you’ll wonder how he got the job! Admission $15 all seats
“The Oxy-Mexichem joint venture is a vital part of our strategy to become a global vertically integrated specialty chemicals company with a focus on high-end products. Once operational, this cracker will provide a steady supply of ethylene, a key raw material for many of our most important products. We look forward to working with OxyChem in the coming years to complete the project,” said Antonio Carrillo, Chief Executive Officer, Mexichem. Total investment in the project will be approximately $1.5 billion. In December 2013, Ingleside Ethylene, LLC awarded CB&I the engineering and construction contract to build the cracker. In May 2014, the plant received necessary permits for construction to begin from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Church Basement Ladies
February 5-7, 12-14 and 19-21 7:30pm February 8, 15, 22 2:30pm
The highlights of four days in the life of the “kitchen crew” of the Lutheran Church of Cornucopia, Minnesota. Admission $15 all seats
“Sandy” Awards February 22
7:30
Awards for 2014 PACT productions. Free.
Money Matters
March 5-7, 12-14 and 19-21 7:30pm March 8, 15 and 22 2:30pm
“Bud the Stud” and “Charmaine” return to the stage...it’s not counterfeiting if it’s for a worthy cause. Admission $15 all seats For more information, call the theatre at 361-749-6036 or go online at Portaransascommunitytheatre.com
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December 24, 2014
A7
Island Moon
Backwater Adventures By Joey Farah
On the Rocks
Farah’s Fishing Adventures
Counting Our Christmas Blessings Even in South Texas the Christmas Spirit can overcome all and take over the coldest of hearts. For many in distance years past Christmas was not so commercialized, a good pair of socks, a new shirt, or a single toy was enough to light up the eyes of friends and family. Today it is so easy to miss the obvious, and that is we are all blessed to even be here. This year has been one of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for me as well. Over time we don’t know what the man upstairs has in store for us so we must count the good blessings and let the bad things fall behind. This Christmas take a moment to just look around and see where we are standing, remember that thousands of people would love to trade places with you and spend their days here on THE FATHER ISLAND. The weather lately has been unseasonably warm and the tides more like high spring tides rather than winter. This is just a warmer winter than last. This will all be changing, I promise that. Look for this front and the next few to drop out the tides as they start coming in from the west. This will concentrate fish back into the deeper areas and push them to feed during daytime and afternoon lunar peaks. When water temperatures fall fish will slow down and feed every couple of days. The trout action this year is superb, with a massive group of fish holding close to the JFK in the Upper Lagoon. Drifting the flats along Flour Bluff yesterday we boated more than 100 trout, 18 keepers before noon.
The Intracoastal canal is packed with fish as well. The birds are still diving and eating shrimp along its banks every morning and night just in front of Marker 37 pier. The night fishing with small DOA 2” shrimp has been off the hook late night early morning off the pier. The flats to the south along the King Ranch Shoreline are clear and full of big trophy trout for wade fishermen and anglers looking to probe the shallow sand pockets with plastics. The water starts to dirty up close to Baffin but there are pockets of clean water in the shallows along Baffin’s shorelines on the North Shore. My success has been centered on throwing shades of plastic, keeping bright, darks, and natural colored plastics at hand. Match your presentation to their mood of feeding. Slow and close to the bottom during the slow periods, and faster flutters in the sand pockets when they are feeding hard. The Drum are thick in the Upper Lagoon along the Packery Channel and in the marked channels along the Humble Channel area. This will only continue to be good fishing for the next few weeks as temperatures fall. The limits of drum we are bringing back from Baffin are very consistent, most every trip. This is a great time to enjoy some good catching on those nice winter days. Live shrimp are scarce so use peeled dead shrimp, look for the best quality dead shrimp you can find. If things get tough eating shrimp from HEB works real well.
I would like to wish all the readers of the Island Moon for the opportunity to give back a little excitement every week with writing these articles. From week to week it allows me to reflect on what I am doing out on the water as well be a little creative. I apologize for the weeks I find myself far away from the computer at deadline and all I can do is send Jan some pictures. And I am very thankful for Dale and Jan putting up with all my @#%$! I am blessed with great customers, wonderful readers, the best parents, and the world’s most unbelievable kids. God has us all in his hands, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Get out and share the outdoors with your family this week. Keep These two young anglers led their family to a big box of drum those hooks sharp and your lines tight!
By Jay Gardner Well here we are smack dab in the middle of the “Holidaze” season, and by the time you get this in your hot little hands, the presents will all be opened and the heathens all riding their new bikes and skateboards around the neighborhood. Peace on earth or something like that.
Early Christians took this message regarding hope and celebrated with an evergreen tree to mark the salvation that Christ offers. See? I landed that one ok, and hopefully didn’t offend anyone. Although, the Jehovah’s Witnesses supposedly oppose Christmas trees and even the celebration of Christmas for their members. Send the comments and emails to them.
Speaking of the Heathens, the winter solstice nearly slid by me the other day without being noticed. Of course you all know that the solstice is the shortest daylight day of the year, but it didn’t even matter because the sun didn’t shine anyway this past Saturday. The solstice marks the beginning of true winter, and maybe this year will be better than the last.
While I fight through my imaginary Seasonal Affective Disorder, I continue to remind myself of the importance of the changing of the seasons (albeit light compared to other places). We have to have cold associated with the hot. We have to have northwest winds in opposition to the southeast. Yin and Yang or the cycle of life or something. Things would actually become pretty stale around here if it wasn’t so. The dead seagrass that gets pushed into the corners of the bays during the summer winds up decaying and releasing nutrients back into the water column when the winds shift and stir it all up. Then all those little shrimp, crabs, and fish that were spawned during the fall use those nutrients to grow up and start the cycle over again. And during the winter they also find refuge in the shallow sea grasses because it’s too cold for the big predators to get them. There are a few dune plants that bloom only in the winter, like Cassia or Partridge Pea, which holds the dunes down when most other types of vegetation are dying back for the winter. Hopefully the mosquitoes will DIE. And couples that are busy the rest of the year spend more quality time huddling together on the couch under a comforter. It really can be a time for rejuvenation.
The winter solstice can be traced back to Neolithic times, where the solstice was used to mark activities such as the slaughter of animals (so they didn’t have to be fed during the hard winter months), last feast celebrations, and also the monitoring of food reserves. A majority of the beer and wine that was made during the year would typically be ready about this time of year. People were much more tied to the solstice and seasons than we are today, and these “holidays” held much more importance back in the day. It was actually a pagan holiday that started the Christmas tree celebration. Now, I know many of your stalwart church-goers are going to flood my inbox with hate mail, but do a little research and read on first. The pagans (long before Christ) would decorate their domiciles with branches of pine or fir trees, because unlike the deciduous trees that lost their leaves and appeared dead, they remained “evergreen” all year and seemed immune to the shortening of the daylight. I suppose it gave them hope and reassurance that spring would eventually come and winter would release them from its grasp.
As we head into the “holidaze”, folks, I want to remind y’all to not drive hammered and spend time with your family and really enjoy their company this holiday season. When it comes down to it, life’s too short. See you on the rocks.
this Tuesday from Baffin Bay on dead shrimp.
Rachel and Jason enjoying the holidaze
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Gulfstream #220 My daughter, Ashley Anderson and I, went out fishing last Saturday to celebrate her completing her fall semester at TAMUCC. Ashley landed her black drum first and then I landed the 39 in Red 30 minute later. She ended the day with a 37 inch Red (pictured in the background) It was a record setting day for both of us. Dad and daughter had a very special day. Chuck Anderson Merry Christmas!
Global Status Report on Fish Spawning Aggregations Just Released: Suggests Widespread Declines At the recent International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) meeting in Okinawa, Japan, Science and Conservation of Fish Aggregations (SCRFA) and the ICRI Ad Hoc Committee of Reef Associated Fisheries launched the most up to date information on how the world's fish spawning aggregations are faring. “Spawning aggregations around the world are declining, and an alarming 4% are documented to have disappeared entirely. This is a critical issue for marine fisheries and conservation that deserves more attention on the global stage,” said Dr. Brad Erisman, Board Member of SCRFA and Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
The report, which analyzed 888 records of fish spawning aggregations for over 200 species from 44 families in 52 countries, has revealed important information for science and management of fish aggregations and the fisheries they support. Despite the limited information available on the level of management and monitoring of these aggregations, current information suggests that only about 35% of the fish analyzed have some form of management in place such as marine protected areas or seasonal protection from fishing, and only about 25% have some form of monitoring.
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Happy Holidays from your friends at Scuttlebutt’s Bar & Grill. We will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to allow our staff to enjoy time with their families. 14254 SPID Phone: 361-949-6769 scuttlebuttsbarandgrill.com
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A8
December 24, 2014
Island Moon
SPORTS Purvis continued from A1
Sports Talk-Special to The Island Moon
Texas High School Football By Dotson Lewis Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s note: Texas high school football just finished another spectacular year. Ten state champions were crowned. All of the teams had at least one good story about their road to the championship. One in particular is a most heartwarming story. My good friend Jim Lago of “Lago in the Morning” radio show fame sent me this story. It is about his home town high school football team, the Class 4A, Division II Texas State Champions Gilmer Buckeyes. Enjoy
Hollywood couldn’t have scripted it any better. A team tragically loses one of its top players in the offseason. The team dedicates its season to its late teammate, wins 15 straight games to get to the state championship and then trails 25-7 at halftime. That team then shuts out its opponent in the second half and rallies for the win.
Junior Devin Smith, who made an impact all game, returned the ensuing kickoff 59 yards to set the Buckeyes up at the Mustang 26 with 13 seconds left. Gilmer had to settle for a 35yard field goal attempt by Tristan Olivares. The kick was short, and Thompson caught the ball just inside of the end zone and returned it 102 yards to the end zone. Fortunately for Gilmer, a penalty was called against West Orange-Stark to erase the touchdown and keep the deficit at 18 points entering the locker room.
Well, that’s exactly how things played out for the Gilmer Buckeyes, who capped a 16-0 season with a 35-25 victory over West OrangeStark in the Class 4A, Division II title game Friday afternoon at AT&T Stadium. “It's really a story,” Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor said. “If anyone wants a good book or great movie to write, it's straight out of Hollywood. We have a coach on our staff, Robert Bero, who has coached for over 40 years and never won a state championship. He retired last year and I talked him out of it and he won his very last game. I've got my nephew coaching on the team, my son on the team – all these kids over here – it's just a Cinderella story. “We've won three and this is the most special one. I don't make those kind of comments often, but this one will always be something special to me.” Desmond Pollard, who would’ve been a senior receiver for the Buckeyes this season, died while he was playing basketball back in March. Gilmer set out all season to play for Pollard, bringing his No. 8 jersey along to every game and toting it out to midfield for the coin toss. The Buckeyes’ slogan all season was “DEZign8,” and they completed their mission on Friday. “They love their buddy and they miss him,” Traylor said. “They don't like hearing it, but he's probably the best player on the team and if he had been here today, he would've put on a show for you.” The heartwarming story almost had an unhappy ending for the Buckeyes, though. West Orange-Stark controlled the first half in almost every phase of the game on the way to a lopsided halftime advantage. A 12-yard run by Jack Dallas and two scoring passes from the Mustangs’ sophomore quarterback – a 12-yarder to Jeron Preston and an 18-yarder to Deionte Thompson – on fourth down – lifted West Orange-Stark to a 19-0 lead with 4:52 left in the second quarter. Success on third and fourth downs was the key to West Orange-Stark’s dominating start. The Mustangs were 7 of 9 on third down and 2 of 2 on fourth down in the first half. Gilmer, however, failed in four attempts on such plays. After Thompson’s touchdown grab, Gilmer finally did what it had done all season. The Buckeyes went 72 yards on just three plays in 28 seconds to get on the scoreboard for the first time with a five-yard touchdown run by Kris Boyd, who accounted for all of the yards on the drive. He caught a 55-yard pass from McLane Carter and then had a 12-yard run to set up the score. The Mustangs got the ball back and ran down the majority of the time remaining in the half. Trey Baldwin capped the drive with a one-yard run to make it 25-7 with 24 seconds on the clock.
Started in Maryland
With West Orange-Stark looking like it was going to add to its lead by advancing the ball to the Gilmer 29, Jackson Sikes picked off Dallas’ pass attempt – the junior linebacker’s first interception of the season. Gilmer capitalized as a 42-yard pass from Carter to Lynch helped set up a 13-yard touchdown strike from Carter to Nick Smith to cut the score to 25-14 with 7:15 to play in the third quarter.
Willis Thomas Wilson, Jr., was born on March 22, 1960, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the land of college basketball. His family later moved to Silver Springs, Maryland, where Willis won All-Metro Washington and All-County honors for Montgomery Blair High School. As a junior, Willis led his basketball team to the 1977 Maryland State Championship. The following year, Wilson was selected the MVP in Montgomery County and captained the McDonald’s Coaches Scholarship All-Star Team in the Capital Centre Classic.
With momentum clearly shifted into the Buckeyes’ favor, they stopped West OrangeStark on fourth down and then took their first lead with a four-yard run by Lynch with 10:53 left in the contest, capping a 14-play, 70-yard drive.Lynch, the Offensive MVP of the game, added a seven-yard touchdown run with 4:59 left to make it 35-25. Gilmer fumbled the punt and the first play of that drive, but Quinn Fluellen and Kris Boyd were able to recover the loose balls for the Buckeyes. “We know our offense is good and we've just got to keep doing what we're doing,” Lynch said.
Willis later played basketball and graduated from Rice University in 1982. He would begin his coaching career at his alma mater in 1985, as an assistant. With stops at Strake Jesuit Prep, Stanford, Rice and then Memphis, Willis is the winningest coach in Rice history and has so far placed 25 of his kids in the professional ranks. He has been selected Coach of the Year several times and has won way too many awards to mention here.
On to the Islanders Willis Wilson accepted the Islanders Men’s Head Coaching position on March 25, 2011. He inherited a very young team in disarray. In his
wilder. “I hear they have gone broke and are going to declare bankruptcy.” Or, “I hear the financing fell through.” Or the best one “I heard the city has condemned the building and it is going to have to be torn down.”
Here’s what’s happening
After Gilmer stretched the lead to 10, Kris Boyd picked off Dallas. But Kalen Garrett then forced a fumble, and Trey Spencer recovered it for the Mustangs. Gilmer responded by forcing a three and out, thanks to two big defensive plays by Olivares, who also pressured the quarterback on Kris Boyd’s interception a few minutes earlier. Kris Boyd finished with 145 total yards for the Buckeyes – 84 on the ground on 19 carries and 61 receiving on four catches – and Lynch had 24 yards and two touchdowns rushing and added two catches for 96 yards.
third season, the Islanders showed tremendous improvement. In the 2013-2014 season, the Islanders earned a 14-4 win-loss regular season record in the Southland Conference and received a spot in the College Insider Tournament. There they recorded the Islanders programs’ very first postseason win since the team’s inception in 1999. Last year, Willis also earned the prestigious Ben Jobe Award, as the top Minority Coach of the Year, in Division I basketball. And this year he has already celebrated the 250th win of his coaching career. Willis Wilson has always been there when I have asked for his help. He has spoken to his fans at my business and he and his wife, Vicki, have attended my book-signing events. He has asked me to speak to his team on occasion, and I treasure his friendship. Wilson has spent nearly 30 years breathing through a whistle while teaching young boys how to become men, how to be productive in society and accountable to others and “oh yes,” how to play the great game of basketball. So, if you want to see the results of a great coach and be proud of the kids representing our city, grab a ticket and Go Islanders. 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 Story Time with Uncle Andy on Tuesdays 5-6 PM and Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session each Thursday night from 6-8 PM on ESPN 1440 KEYS.
Schlitterbahn continued from A1
It was that last one that made me decide that waiting any longer was not a good idea. So let me begin by addressing those three questions/ assertions; No, No, and No. Here is what I have learned by talking to the people involved in the deal. I will leave them nameless here because they have not consented to be quoted, but the information is first hand. Here’s what I know. The project has not gone broke and financing did not “fall through.” What has happened is that the project has grown by almost twice since construction began and that requires more money. How to handle that has caused stress among the partners and they are in the process of reorganizing themselves. Some of the partners may opt to be bought out by other partners, or they may not. It is unknown at this point which partners will stay in and which may
It’s a glitch not a deal killer and it too will be resolved in due course. I am in communication with the people involved in the project and they assure me they will inform me when the current questions are resolved. I would point out that this is a privatelyfunded project - with no public money in it yet – and the developers are not required to release anything to the public even when it is. That has been part of my reluctance to write about the mid-course adjustments going on now. But as we all know the Coconut Telegraph on The Island is quick to report and is almost always wrong. So in the absence of good information bad information has filled the vacuum. Rest assured that if the project ever looks like it is in trouble I will be the first to say so; it is not. I know that the folks who read the legal filings have found a lawsuit from a contractor who claims he is owed about $660,000. There is a dispute there but it has nothing to do with the park’s developers not being able to pay. It too will be resolved in course. Which leads to the final rumor making the rounds – that the building has been condemned and must be torn down. I have to admit that
“Our goal is always to get Kris Boyd and Blake Lynch the ball as much as possible,” Traylor said. “It's not that complicated, we're not splitting atoms. When you've got a horse, ride him. And we've got some horses. That's why you sit here, you don't do that without great players and we've had them for 15 years.” Gilmer finished with 355 yards – 243 in the second half. The Buckeyes, who were trailing at halftime for just the second time this season, were held scoreless in the first quarter for the only time all season and were limited to a season-low 35 points. The other time Gilmer trailed at halftime was in a 41-35 win against Gladewater in the regional semifinals. And just like that night, Gilmer found a way to rally for the win. Other than those two games and an early 41-35 win over Tatum, it was a dominating campaign for the Buckeyes, who finished with the secondhighest scoring mark in a season in Texas high school football history with 950 points. Dotson’s other note: Do you know who holds the record with ____ points? Your suggestions, comments and/or questions/concerns regarding “Moon Sports Talk” are appreciated. Call the Benchwarmers 361-560-5397 weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 3-6 p.m. or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com
Tides of the Week
Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) December 24-31, 2014
He calls it the bedrock of his program when, in fact, I believe it is a reflection of him and all that he stands for. I think the thing I like most about Coach Wilson is that he coaches the oldfashioned way, with respect, patience, honesty and understanding.
The second half was a different story.
Just 11 seconds later, Gilmer was in the end zone again. The kickoff was tough to handle by West Orange-Stark, and DeMarco Boyd made the tackle at the Mustang 8. On the first play, Boyd and Olivares teamed up to force a Baldwin fumble, and Devin Smith recovered the ball in the end zone to make it 25-21.Devin Smith also blocked a West Orange-Stark extra point attempt earlier in the game and finished with seven tackles.
Gilmer vs West Orange-Stark
I also love college basketball. I can’t wait for basketball season. I attend the Islanders’ preseason practices on occasion and Coach Wilson has always made me feel a part of his program. In this crazy world of social consciousness, you will see, hear and smell three things at an Islander round-ball practice: Character, Toughness and Talent.
Day
High /Low
Tide Time
Height in Feet
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
W Th F Sa Su M Tu
24 24 25 25 26 26 26 26 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 30 30 30 30
Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High
10:00 AM 6:36 PM 10:50 AM 7:04 PM 1:55 AM 4:01 AM 11:42 AM 7:27 PM 2:15 AM 6:03 AM 12:41 PM 7:47 PM 2:52 AM 8:10 AM 1:55 PM 8:04 PM 3:36 AM 10:39 AM 3:47 PM 8:18 PM 4:23 AM 1:04 PM 5:58 PM 8:26 PM
-0.6 1.6 -0.4 1.4 0.9 1.0 -0.1 1.3 0.7 0.9 0.2 1.2 0.4 0.9 0.5 1.1 0.1 1.0 0.8 1.0 -0.2 1.2 0.9 1.0
7:17 AM 5:41 PM 7:17 AM 5:41 PM 7:17 AM 5:42 PM
Rise 9:22 AM Set 8:51 PM Rise 10:10 AM Set 9:55 PM Rise 10:54 AM Set 10:59 PM
Moon Visible
4 10 18
7:18 AM 5:42 PM
Rise 11:36 AM
28
7:18 AM 5:43 PM
Set 12:00 AM Rise 12:18 PM
39
7:18 AM 5:44 PM
Set 1:01 AM Rise 12:59 PM
50
7:19 AM 5:44 PM
Set 2:01 AM Rise 1:41 PM
61
opt out. But what is known is that the partners, if they so choose, can write a check to finish the project. It’s pretty hard to “go bankrupt” under those conditions. It will get worked out in due course. So far about $49 million has been spent on the project and from what I’m told it is believed it will cost around $69 million to finish. The language in the tax incentives from the city – primarily Sales Tax and Hotel Occupancy Tax which are in the neighborhood of $122 million and which are a crucial part of the park’s business model - requires that the exterior of the building and the park be “done” by next March. In that vein you may have noticed work has resumed on the rides at the south end of the park and also on the exterior of the building. More workers have been added of late and more, I’m told, will be added after the first of the year. So far the City of Corpus Christi has declined to release about $3 million money from the Type A Board requiring that the building’s exterior be finished first even though that was originally part of Phase II of the project, to avoid a political backlash for releasing public money for a project with an unfinished building.
one is pretty creative. Stupid yes, but creative. I have been inside the building many times and I can tell you that when people see it they will be impressed. It is finished throughout with wood taken from the trees that burned in the fire in Bastrop a few years ago and it is a beautiful building. If they start tearing it down I’ll let you know.
Everybody take a deep breath So just let me say this. Everybody just take a deep breath. Don’t believe any crazy rumors. I can’t tell you exactly when the last bit of work will be finished there; projects this big take a while to get completely done and are complex by nature, some bumps in the road are to be expected. There is still a lot of concrete to be poured but there is time and money to do it and it will get done. Expect the park to be open by Spring Break and for some work to continue on through the summer season while the park is open. The people behind this project know what they are doing and it will get done.
One ugly fence Now, as for that fence along the Aquarius Extension; I have to agree with you that is one ugly fence. But I would just point out that the same people who are calling to complain about the ugly fence are the same ones who called to complain about the “junkyard” they saw before the fence went up. You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. This too will be fixed in due course. If having to look at an ugly fence is the worst thing that happens to you today you should thank your lucky stars. Once the park opens all of this will be forgotten.
December 24, 2014
Island Moon
New Operations Building for Port Aransas Ferries
Operations at the Port Aransas ferries now have a new home. The new $2.5 million headquarters was dedicated last week with great fanfare including a brass band. The new building is located on the same site as the old operations building and is the nerve center for the operation of the ferry fleet which consists of eight boats which carry up to 20 vehicles each and to which carry 28 vehicles. As the older, smaller boats are retired plans call for them to be replaced by the larger, 28 vehicle boats. The ferries are operated by the Texas Department of Transportation and the statewide head of TxDot was on hand for the dedication.
A9
Message continued from A1
It turned out to be a letter written by a woman named Nikki to a woman named Michele; Nikki wants to thank Michele for saving her life and that of Rondo, and by the way, ask Michele’s pardon for borrowing her husband. You can’t make this stuff up folks. Here’s the letter: Michele, Thank you so much for saving Rondo and me from the ocean, and I know you are who took care of me, and I hope it didn’t hurt you to take care of me. I hope you like my bracelet that you took off my arm. I will get a new one and keep you close to me. I’m so happy that I got to know you for the few years we were together. I’m so happy that we had time to be friends and I’m so happy to be husband, kids and grandkids, and I will try and take care of them as good as you would have. I might not be as good as you, but I will do it the best that I can. I love Rondo as much as I’m sure you loved him. And I hope you will be OK with us being sealed someday soon. And I hope you will be OK with the three of us being sealed as one. I love and miss you and will be happy to be back with you someday. I’ll do my best to keep all the kids together and try and make them get along and I will try and take care of the grand kids. And I will always make sure the grand kids know who you are. You will always be a part of the family and when Sara has the new baby, he or she will know who their true grandmother is. Till we see each other again someday I wish you the best. Love, Nikki Is Michel alive? Is she pining away for Rondo while he and Nikki sail into the sunset on the Love Boat? Why did Michele take Nikki’s bracelet? Tune into the Lifetime Channel's Movie of the Week to find out.
Winter Texan from Decatur, IL recently found a message in a bottle on a Port A beach It’s the whimsical nature and ambiguity of the thing that drives creates the ponderables What does it all mean? Who knows? It somehow brings to mind the words of the old Nanci Griffith song: I just saw John Wayne on the late late show Kiss the girl and ride away I was thinking as the credits rolled I hope he makes it back to her someday Have a Merry Christmas everybody.
The message:
TxDOT’s new ferry operations building in Port Aransas
Part of the crowd enjoying the ferry building dedication ceremony.
VOTED BEST Veterinarian 2006-2014 TxDOT Executive Director LtGen Joe Weber, USMC, (Ret) delivers the keynote address at the dedication ceremony.
Dr. Christi Kresser
RAY HERRERA DIRECTOR
padrevet.com
CHRISTI KRESSER VETERINARIAN
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year The dedication ceremony included the Pledge of Allegiance. From left: TxDOT Executive Director LtGen Joe Weber, USMC, (Ret); Corpus Christi state Rep. Todd Hunter, Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal, TxDOT Corpus Christi District Engineer Lonnie Gregorcyk, P.E.; Port Aransas Mayor Keith McMullin and Howard Gillespie, manager, Port Aransas Ferry Operations.
Thank You For Supporting Dr. Christi Kresser & The Animal Hospital of Padre Island 2014 Best of the Best Veterinarian Corpus Christi & the Coastal Bend Area Voted Best of the Best Veterinarian 9 Years in a Row
Animal Hospital of Padre Island 14802 Compass (361) 949-8200 Check Website For Specials
A10
Island Moon
December 24, 2014