Inside the Moon
Valley of Fire A4
Fishing A7 & A15
The
Issue 581
Island Moon
The voice of The Island since 1996
June 4, 2015
Around The Island By Dale Rankin
Turtles A16
Sports A8
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By Dale Rankin
Out on the Left Coast they got the Crips and the Bloods. Up Waco way they got motorcycle gangs shooting holes in each other. Here on our little sandbar we got feuding shark fishermen. That’s right folks, the Great Shark Feud of 2015 has busted loose on Bob Hall Pier.
After months of wrangling, the move to place a traffic light on SPID at the Aquarius Street intersection cleared the last apparent hurdle and may be in place as early as the end of 2015.
District 4 City Councilwoman Colleen McIntyre, who has actively pushed for the installation of the light, and Mayor Nelda Martinez both attended the meeting.
The way for the light was cleared when the Island Strategic Action Committee Tuesday declined to reverse an earlier vote, cast by the previous ISAC members last December, for approval of the light. ISAC members in June voted to approve the light pending additional traffic studies by San Antonio developer Walter Busby who owns a five-acre tract of land on the east side of the intersection where he plans to build a 101-room Hampton Inn and a retail development.
Nine Island residents spoke at the meeting in favor of the light, most of whom live in on the northern end of The Island and must pass through the intersection to enter the JFK Causeway. They cited heavy, highspeed traffic on SPID as posing a danger without a light to slow the flow.
“They’re acting like a bunch of little bitty crybabies,” he said. “And you can quote me on that.” The best we can tell it started the year before last when there were allegations of cheating during Sharkathon when a sharker was accused of putting his bait out early. There were lie detectors involved and bragging rights at stake. Cheating at Sharkaton, if it did indeed happen, falls somewhere between spitting into the wind and tugging on Superman’s cape; you just don’t do it. It ain’t right. And in the same vein as two history professors fighting over how many smooth bore cannons Napoleon had at Waterloo; the fights are so vicious because the stakes are so small.
“Right now we have a deal with Starbucks,” he said at the Tuesday meeting.
Only one Islander spoke against the light, Ernie Buttler, owner of Snoopy’s Pier who said he fears the light will back up traffic on SPID toward the JFK Causeway. The biggest question about the light, which was called for in a 2011 Island
Light continued on A5
Pizza-Sized Tar Spots Wash Up in Kleberg
“They were setting up tarps out there to block the wind and getting territorial,” he says. “I made them stop that. But it just keeps getting worse.”
“You got yourself a turf war out there,” they said. They ran one group off who headed to Horace Caldwell Pier in Port A where, apparently, the turf is still up for grabs. “We’ve got families walking off the pier because these guys are screaming obscenities at each other,” Scott says. “They have some kind of longstanding feud and they’ve brought it to the pier. Alcohol just puts more gas in the shark tank.” Alcohol is banned at Bob Hall but according to Scott that word hasn’t found its way to the ears of the sharkers yet. Where a nod and a wink has historically been directed at fisherpersons who slipped a couple of cold ones in their ice chest and drank from a Whataburger cup, now Constables are checking ice chests and Scott is talking to the County Attorney’s office about instituting a lifetime ban for multiple offenders. “This can’t continue,” he says. “Something has to be done to put a stop to this.” In the meantime the Great Shark continues.
Fire in the Sky It’s not too early to start planning your 4th of July deck party as the Island Blast! fireworks display will go off again this year at 0-dark-thirty at the end of Whitecap. There is still time to contribute to the fireworks fund. We’ll see you there. In the meantime, say hello if you see us Around The Island.
Island Spring Break Traffic Count
During the rain-soak Spring Break in March the city placed nine locations around The Island. Here are the counts for Monday March 16, the only data available at press time.
Commemorative Air Force Opens Museum in Aransas Pass on D-Day World War II warbirds on display this Saturday in Aransas Pass The United States produced nearly 300,000 aircraft during World War II and today very few are still in flying condition and almost all of them are owned by the Texas Commemorative Air Force. They will be on display this Saturday, June 6 (D-Day), from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McCambell –Porter Airport in Aransas Pass as the CAF opens the squadron’s new Hangar and Museum of Military Aircraft.
And now things have escalated. Loud cursing and dead bait fish on the pier are merely bad manners. But Scott says The Great Shark Feud has gone way beyond that. The sharkers like to work at night and use kayaks to take their bait way out where the big sharks hang out but launching their kayaks from the pier is against the rules. So is drinking. So is threating people with sharp knives and according to Scott all of those are part of the Great Shark Feud of 2015.
On Memorial Day Scott himself called in the law dogs – all of themhe called the Game Wardens, CCPD, and the Nueces County Constable.
Photo by Brandi Grahl
Island to See The Light
editor@islandmoon.com
For the past few months Nueces County Coastal Parks Director Scott Cross has been playing daddy to two groups of angry shark fishermen armed with long sharp knives fighting turf wars at the end of Bob Hall Pier. From the looks of things the knives involved are considerably sharper than the wits.
Live Music A18
More photos on A3 For the third time in two weeks cleanup crews were called to area beaches to clean up tar balls that have been washing ashore. The latest incident was Thursday when these tar spots, the largest so far, washed up in Kleberg County just south of Bob Hall Pier. They ranged up to three feet in diameter and were two to three inches thick with the viscosity of soft wax. Crews last week collected small tar balls in about the same area as well as Port Aransas. A spokesperson for the Texas General Land Office said samples of the tar have been collected and sent for testing but, as of press time, no results are available to indicate whether the tar is coming from natural of manmade sources.
A little Island history
“We are all very happy about our new facility” said 2015 Col Pearson Knolle, Unit Leader of The Maxine Flournoy Third Coast Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force,. “The Squadron has worked hard in order to make the new facility become a
P-51 Mustang reality.” The new facility includes a 12,500sf hangar, 3,000sf museum, offices and conference room, vehicle parking for 50 cars and large tarmac area for the unit’s planes. In 1957 a group of World War II veterans in the Rio Grande Valley
Air Force continued on A6
Baffin Rocks!
Editor’s note: Bobbie Kimbrell has lived in Flour Bluff since 1942 and was a commercial fisherman until his retirement a few years ago. By Bobbie Kimbrell Unbeknownst to a lot of fishermen or boat enthusiasts there are two “Points of Rocks” in the Laguna Madre. One of the points of rocks is the reef that runs out about 100 yards or so north of Penascal Point where Baffin Bay meets the Laguna Madre. The other Point of Rocks, as is shown incorrectly on the Padre Island National Seashore National Geographic Maps, is located where the mot northern part of Baffin Bay meets the Laguna Madre a few feet east of the Intracoastal Canal. Those rocks are covered over with dredge mud now. The “Mail Box” is a marker made of three cedar stakes jabbed into the sand bottom of a sand reef extending east of the Intracoastal Canal and tied together at the top with a wooden arrow pointing to the east, was the marker where, heading south you turn east to avoid hitting the point of rocks, from there heading south was piling markers on the east side where the shallow water ended and the deeper water started. Those markers extended all the way across the mouth of Baffin Bay down toward the lower end of the Lagoon, (before the Intracoastal Canal was
completed in the late 1040s). After completion of the Canal, which resulted in the Laguna Madre not being as salty, the sea worms ate the pilings up and they ceased to exist. Starting where the Laguna Madre meets Baffin Bay there is a large mass of rocks that extends out into Baffin Bay. Most of the rocks are in shallow water one to two feet deep with a lot of separate rocks in the deeper water. Some of the rocks were flat and 20 to 30 feet across and were visible on the extremely low summer or winter low tide. Most of the time all the rocks are underwater. When the Intracoastal
Canal was dug it went right though most of the rocks where the Laguna Madre crosses the mouth of Baffin Bay and it destroyed a lot of the good fishing grounds in that area because the dredge spoil created large spoil dumps on the east side of the Canal and the Canal itself eliminated a lot of the rocks. Most of the big trout and redfish that are caught in Baffin Bay are from around and nearby rocks. Every time the canal is re-dredged because of silt, more
History continued on A5
A2
June 4, 2015
Island Moon
Yard of the Month
June Bag Hero
Skip the Plastic is pleased to announce our June Bag Hero, Gayly Opem. Like many Rockport residents, Gayly appreciates the beauty of the coast and looks forward to a time when the beaches, bays and Gulf will be free of plastic trash. As the leader of Skip the Plastic's Rockport/Fulton team, one example she sets for others is bringing her own bags when shopping.
Shooting Gallery
The Island Gardeners awarded yard of the month for June to Lori, Omar and Delanie Rivero. They reside at 13641 Camino de Oro, a corner lot along Tesoro. Lori designed her water wise yard herself. Crushed granite is the backdrop for beautiful succulents displaying their shapes and colors while multicolored rocks border the garden areas. Drive by this unique beauty on your way to the butterfly garden and community gardens at Douden Park. Any suggestions for yard of the month may be directed to Dianne Gimpel @ 361-563-0951.
The impromptu shooting gallery on Nueces County land just north of the Padre Island National Seashore has been relocated due to high water. Formerly, before Nueces County purchased the 3680 acres from the Texas General Land Office last year, the shooting area was much larger and located at the end of the dirt road which is now under two feet of water. Shooters now are stopping in the road and shooting, as evidenced by these spent shells. The Nueces County Coastal Park Board is currently working on plans to clean up the area and shut down the shooting area.
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June 4, 2015
Island Moon
Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder
Did Ya Hear?
Letters to the Editor Development Plan Editor’s note: This letter went out this week to members of the Corpus Christi Association of Realtors. Dear CCAR Member, The City of Corpus Christi has launched a new opportunity for its citizens to provide general input on a very big plan for our city. We need your help desperately. Please, even if you review one chapter, please take the time to provide feedback and let them know your thoughts! This will be the guiding initiative for the next 20 years in Corpus Christi.
Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley Production Manager
Plan CC 2035 is now available for members of the public to read and to offer feedback on the plan. You may access the plan by going to this website and reading it or downloading the plan for yourself. Warning: The plan is very long so don't hit print unless you have about 200 pages! http://www.plancc2035.com
Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen
CCAR and the Builders Association are working together to help raise awareness amongst our members of the plan. Moreover, we are asking that you submit your thoughts, ideas and questions on the website or directly to the city. Here are the options to provide feedback/comments:
Chad Peters
1. On the Plan CC website through MindMixer: http://www.plancc2035.com
Todd Hunter
2. Email to: AnnikaG@cctexas.com
Dotson Lewis
3. Written comments can be mailed to Annika Gunning, Development Services, 2406 Leopard Street, CC TX 78408
Jay Gardner
Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk
4. Comment sheets are available in the public libraries and can be turned in there
Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers
Once you see the plan, you may be somewhat overwhelmed by what you see. Thus far, several of us have either read all or portions of the plan and have gained some important information. Here are some of the main points thus far:
Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)
by Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com or @padreeyelander on twitter
1. A Boston consulting group was hired to create the plan (Goody Clancy). 2. The initial cost of JUST THE PLAN: $2.4 million dollars paid to the consultants--money well spent? 3. The plan proposes (1) one home per 20 acres in newly developed areas. 4. There are NO costs associated with the implementation of the plan. How much will all of this cost the taxpayers? 5. How many people attended these meetings? In Chapter 4, it describes several meetings, the largest of which had about 200 people. It seems that very few people were asked to provide input. 6. The focus of the plan seems to be all about downtown revitalization. 7. The price of housing for homeowners will go up substantially due to the scope of this plan. 8. C.C. Plan 2035 proposes narrower streets (road diet is the actual language) and calls for more bicycle paths, walkways and public transportation. 9. The City will mandate deed restrictions and dictate what citizens can and cannot do with their property. 10. We are not taking care of our existing infrastructure, so how can we launch such an ambitious plan?
Riley P. Dog 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 15201 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 250 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
Where to Find The Island Moon Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant Pioneer RV Park
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Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A
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A Mano
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Spanky’sLiquor
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IGA Grocery Store
Isle Mail N More
Carter Pharmacy
Brooklyn Pie Co.
San Juan’s Taqueria
Ace Hardware
Wash Board Laundry Mat
Texas Star (Shell)
Port A Parks and Rec
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Holiday Inn
Public Library Chamber of Commerce
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Duckworth Antiques
And all Moon retail advertisers
Back Porch
WB Liquor
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Flour Bluff
Giggity’s
H.E.B.
Stripes @ Cotter & Station Gratitude Gift Shop Keepers Pier House Port A Glass Studio The Gaff
Major legislation passed during the 84th Legislative Session includes: • Tax Cuts - SB 1 cuts property taxes by increasing the Homestead Exemption to $25,000. HB 32 provides a permanent, across-the-board 25% franchise tax cut for Texas businesses. • Transportation - SJR 5 allows Texas voters to consider a constitutional amendment that dedicates a portion of the motor vehicle sales tax to road funding and addresses critical infrastructure needs.
Oil Cleanup
Thank you. Warren W. Andrich President & CEO
Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station Police Station Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
Stray Cat Sailing Adventures offers private charters and dinner cruises where you can enjoy dolphin watching, sunsets, bird watching and swimming. They are family and dog friendly and can accommodate up to six people. The sailboat is located at Island Moorings in Port A. Call Capt. Chester Ruder at 416-0054 to reserve your trip.
Business Briefs The International/Chinese Buffet has opened in Port A next to the old Whataburger building on Cotter and is getting rave reviews. They have a wide variety of items including sushi, hibachi, steaks, desserts, fruit and much more. It opened in May and is the talk of the town. Pink Beach Boutique opened June 1st on SPID in the Isle Mail Plus strip center where you see all the Mexican Pottery being sold on weekends. They have beachwear, maxi dresses, crochet shawls, beachy kitchen items, children and baby clothes and even a children’s lounge so Mom can shop freely.
Pink Beach Boutique
• 2nd Amendment - SB 11 allows licensed and trained students, faculty, and staff, ages 21 and older, to carry firearms on public college and university campuses. HB 910 allows licensed and trained firearm owners to openly display and carry a holstered handgun. • Veterans Affairs - SB 55 creates a grant program to support community mental health programs for veterans and their families. HB 115 ensures victims of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting will be awarded the Texas Purple Heart Medal. • Religious Freedom - SB 2065 protects a pastor's right to decline to perform same-sex marriages. • Border Security - HB 11 is an extensive border security bill that will increase manpower, ramp up training, and crack down on crime. Additionally, the 2016-17 Texas budget doubled border security funding. • Budget - HB 1 is a fiscally responsible budget that meets our state's growing needs while remaining well under the constitutional spending cap. Texas Senate Republican Caucus
Canal Sharks
From the Moon Facebook Page I have a question for you. Have sharks ever been spotted in the canals?? Thanks!! Leslie Ming Ronnie Buhman The big sharks don't go into the canals but the small ones, seven feet and under will feed in the canals. They eat sting rays, baby alligators, and feet. Joey Garza Sharks are everywhere in the Corpus Christi area as long as you got 3 to 4 feet of water they are there! just like stingrays and even alligators that are near the freshwater saltwater area Phil Grant Go stick your finger in the water and taste it if it's salty it has sharks in it!
The Flour Bluff High School Class of 1985 is having their 30th reunion on Friday, June 12th 6 pm at the Boathouse Bar & Grill. The Creative Referral Network hosted by Padre Island Business Branding now meets at the Veranda Restaurant. The group meets every Friday morning 8:30 – 9:30 am. Bring your business card to this free networking event. For more info call Cassandra Strom at 949-0735. The Super Stripes on Whitecap is opening up a sandwich counter. The Donut Palace in Port A is moving to the building next to the Desserted Island Ice Cream Shop on Alister. The John Paul Barta Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, July 11th 10 am at Lozano Golf Center with a $100 entrance fee. Corporal John Paul Barta was a class of 2000 graduate of Flour Bluff. In his time at Flour Bluff he excelled as an athlete, being named to the All-State team in football and baseball. In 2006 John Paul lost his life in Iraq fighting for his country. Go to the tournament website to register. Port A Art Center will host their monthly First Friday Reception June 5th 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The theme this month is photography and will include photos by Brent Rourk, Patty Nelson and Mike Catling. As always, enjoy refreshments, live music, great art and artists. CCA Texas Redfish Bay Take a Kid Fishing Event will be held at Woody’s Sports Center on Cotter Street in Port A. Registration with a shrimp boil starts at 5 pm Friday, June 5th. Fishing starts at sunrise Saturday with weigh-in 11 am-12:30 pm R egistration is $10/child. Call Woody’s at 7495252 for more info. The traffic light at Aquarius was approved and could be in by the end of the year. The 101 room Hampton Inn with retail space including a Starbucks should be completed spring 2016.
Amy Gazin I seriously would rather not know. Ignorance is bliss in my book.
Send letters and photos to editor@islandmoon.com Or visit us on Facebook at The Island Moon Newspaper
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Again, your input is absolutely necessary. Let our City Leaders know what you think of the plan and how it will affect our industry, our taxes and private property owners!
Jesse’s Liquor Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant
Woody’s Sports Center
"I can confidently report that this has been a solid, conservative session," said Caucus Chairman Kelly Hancock (District 9 - North Richland Hills). "We addressed critical issues like border security and transportation funding while still finding $3.8 billion in tax relief for Texas families and businesses. I would call that a big win for all Texans."
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11. The plan actually calls for 'Growth Containment' in an effort to maximize the downtown area.
Open letter from Texas Senate Republican Caucus This week the Texas Senate Republican Caucus marked the conclusion of the 84th Legislative Session.
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A4
June 4, 2015
Island Moon
Travel
Valley of Fire Spectacular Beauty that You Can Touch
By Brent Rourk seemingly barren, is the home to a wide variety of animal and plant life that call the colored rocks and powder-like sand of the desert floor home. Every stop holds a unique surprise; a new rock formation, different sun position, a unique shade of pink, orange, or yellow, and in some places native American petroglyphs over 3000 years old. In many cases you can be inches away from these incredible desert drawings that depict elements of daily native life, including water, people, and a host of animals.
One of the beehives Again Las Vegas (The fertile plains) is the destination point for another magnificent natural location, one that has been largely ignored by most travelers. Its color, wildlife, and rock formations are every bit worth a full day trip or two. The Valley of Fire, as it is known, is nothing short of overpowering. Somewhat spontaneously I planned a recent return trip to Las Vegas after having visited Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon a month before. The reason for the second trip was that I wanted to revisit Hoover Dam and to see for the first time the Valley of Fire. I am glad that I did. A 45 minute drive from 'Sin City' opens up breathtaking views of varied colored sandstone, limestone and shale formations within the confines of this 50,000 acre desert site dedicated as the first and oldest Nevada State Park in 1935. The Valley of Fire received its name from the rich red color of the rock formations. Unlike some natural wonders, the Valley of Fire is incredibly colorful and easily accessible.
Small Fee – Big Colors Visitors pay a small fee and then can explore all day; hiking, climbing, picnicking, camping, touching, and getting close to the radiant rock formations. This desert area, though stark and
But it is the color that will impress you. Though our jeep load of visitors was warned about how spectacular the first glimpse would be, all of us were in awe (even after viewing photographs in advance). The striking colors seem so out of place and at the same time so vivid. It appears that a giant artist spilled huge buckets of red, orange, and yellow paint all over the rocks emerging from the desert floor.
Rainbows of colors appear throughout the park
Easily Accessible At most, the Valley of Fire is an hour from Las Vegas on Highway 15 and then right on Valley of Fire Highway next to the Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza. A pleasant and quick drive through the desert and some gentle mountains leads the visitor to the first stunning splash of color. Once in the park, paved and unpaved roads easily take visitors to dozens of destinations for hiking and exploring. Turnouts in the roads permit stops to photograph the awe-inspiring towers of pink, orange, yellow, and even white. Several scenic rest areas generously provide covered picnic table areas.
Rich in Native American History Filled with history as home to both the Basket Maker People and the Anasazi Indians, this under-appreciated state park proudly and easily provides a day of picturesque fun. Arrowheads and other rock tools used by native Americans still abound (and are the property of the park.) Scarcity of water no doubt made the Valley of Fire frequently inhospitable even to Native Americans, but food, some water, and plants
were all worth making the valley home for many centuries.
Animal and Plant Life Varied and Specialized At first sight a visitor unfamiliar with desert animal life might think that there are no animals, but that is far from the truth. The animal life is not always on display during the day as temperature in this part of the Mojave Desert routinely hit and exceed 100 degrees in the summer, sometimes hitting a scorching 120 degrees. Some of the animal life is as dangerous as it is striking so it is vital to be aware of snakes, scorpions, spiders and mountain lions. Snakes seek protection from the cold during the winter so during my recent trip we did not encounter a single snake. A few small lizards darted on and below different plants. Several birds and ground squirrels were very active. Other animals that visitors might encounter, depending on the time of year and time of day include the rare fire desert tortoise, Big Horn Sheep, bobcat, coyote, side-blotched lizard, skunk, kitfox, jackrabbit, and several other species of lizards and snakes. Much of the plant life is specialized for withstanding very little water (on the average the park receives about 4 inches of rain per year) and protecting itself against predators. Although some of the plants might look scrawny and straggly many of the plants bush out in subdued but attractive greens and yellows. Native Americans used many desert plants as food, tools and medicine.
The Cabins built in the 1930s by the CCC
We have the team to help you grow.
The predominant plants are the creosote bush, the brittlebush, and the burro bush but cactus are also fairly abundant and also blossom with gorgeous flowers. During the spring several desert plans blossom creating a desert floor canvas of color that complements that amazing rock colors.
Places to Visit in the Park A stop at the Visitor's Center is worth every minute as they sell snacks, drinks, water (stay hydrated), and more. The Beehive stop near the beginning of the park is a must see. Another stop worth noting is at The Cabins; 3 small sandstone cabins built as a CCC project in the 1930s. Other must stop sites include Atlatl Rock, Arch Rock, Petrified Logs, Balanced Rock, White Domes, the Seven Sisters, and Elephant Rock. As the sandstone has gradually weathered countless unique shapes can be found; the bust, the old car, the fish, the little elephants, King Kong, and more. I loved the colors of the Valley of Fire and definitely savored several 'Oh Wow!' moments as astounding sites met my eyes when our vehicle turned a corner or went over a hill only to open onto another valley filled with mountains and monoliths with mosaics of color.
When to Go Spring and Summer provide the best weather for visiting or camping at the Valley of Fire, although my recent winter visit was greeted with perfect 72 degree sunny weather. Winter temperatures can dip, making hiking and camping less appealing to many. Summer temperatures are nothing short of unbearable and visitors risk heatstroke or at the minimum severe dehydration. But if the visitor is prepared, any time of the year will reveal the intense colors this fabulous park is known for. In 1968 the Valley of Fire was designated a National Natural Landmark. It is a fabulous way to enjoy the real riches of Las Vegas and is definitely ‘worth the gamble’. For more information about this spectacular park visit online at http://www.valley-offire.com/.
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June 4, 2015
A5
Island Moon
History continued from A1 rocks are covered up and more fishing grounds are covered up with dredge mud. The same goes for the rest of the Lagoon as well, even where there are no rocks. In places where the dredge spoil was dumped between existing spoil dumps that caused some areas to become dead areas because of no water circulation, cuts had to be remade between the spoil dumps. In other places the seagrass is so thick, you cannot navigate a boat between the dumps and it kills water circulation as well. In the past, when fishing in and around the rocks with trotlines baited with cut mullet, it was a haven for catching redfish, redfish and trout being the choice that the housewives bought at the markets. Not so today since trout and redfish are now regulated for sport fishing only and million dollar redfish tournaments. Also in the past nearly every rock that posed a hazard for navigation was marked with an iron pipe. They were all marked in the same manner so that even a novice could determine where the rocks were. Some of the pipes were put up in the 1930s and were replaced if they rusted out or if hurricane debris did them in. to the best of my remembrances none of the pipes are there today due to fishermen tying on to them to rod and reel fish in rough weather which broke them off, especially of they were getting rusty. If the weather is rough and windy the rocks are easily detected by the waves turning white and foamy as they break over the rocks. Some of the biggest speckled trout every caught were caught on the rock reef a few hundred feet from the shoreline of East Kleberg Point in Baffin Bay. Most of the bigger trout, “sow trout,” are caught near the King Ranch shoreline south of the Pure Oil Channel all the way south to Baffin Bay and from there all the way to Starvation Point at the mouth of Alazan Bay. At times a few big trout are caught between Pita Island and the Pure Oil Channel. it’s still possible to navigate a shallow draft outboard boat, on plane, all the way from Flour Bluff, hugging a few feet from the west shoreline of the Laguna Madre, down to Baffin Bay and then all the way to Starvation Point in Baffin Bay. There is also a rock-free area about two or three miles long about one mile west of Compurta Pass down to East Kleberg Point with \a sand bar built up between the edge of the deep water and where the shallow water starts toward the shoreline. Most of the rocks in the Laguna Madre south of Baffin Bay on the west side are on the bottom and don’t pose a hazard to navigation. Until you get down to Rocky Slough where the water is more shallow. There area a few rocks on the east side of the Intracoastal Canal at the mouth of Baffin Bay as well as some rocks between the spoil dumps where the Yarborough Channel runs into the Intracoastal Canal. There are numerous rock reefs all along the south shore of Baffin Bay in Kennedy County, starting at the Penascal Point and then west down to Niebaur Point toward Lyola Beach and Rivera Beach. That coastline is also navigable with a shallow draft outboard boat. There is one rock about 50 yards out from the west shoreline of the Laguna Madre about two miles north of Baffin Bay that has been hit by just about every boat that travels the west shore in that area and it is hit only in a real low summer or winter low tide. Many a lower unit and propeller has been damaged hitting that rock and I am surprised that some organization like the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or the Redfish Sportsman Association hasn’t removed the small rock with dynamite or with some type of jackhammer. That rock has left thousands of boats throughout the years stranded and disabled. There are no rocks on the east side of the Intracoastal Canal all the way from Flour Bluff to the mouth of Baffin Bay. Most of the rocks look to be made of lava but according to scientists they were made by rock worms millions and millions of years ago. Fishing a rocks throw from the rocks will usually put fish in your creel, or as it is commonly called, a Jax Box.
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City of Port Aransas Begins Charging for Beach Camping
Motorcycle Fun Run Raises More Than Awareness On Saturday, May 30th Corpus Christi Cycle Plaza and Sonic Drive-In hosted their 4th Annual Can You See Me Now Fun Run For Motorcycle Awareness. Motorcycle enthusiasts from as far away as Gainesville, TX arrived on Saturday in order to show their support for Motorcycle Awareness. “We had great participation”, said Matt Werkhoven, General Manager at Corpus Christi Cycle Plaza. “138 riders from all over the state did the ride around the Bay, and donated to Special Olympics in honor of Chief Simpson. It was a great day. Ultimately, thanks to everyone’s generosity, we raised $2,200 dollars for Special Olympics Texas. We’re deeply grateful to everybody who came out, especially to the terrific folks at Sonic. We couldn’t do it without them!”
Editor’s note: The City of Port Aransas issued this statement this week. The City of Port Aransas adopted an ordinance regulating camping on the beach. What hasn’t changed is the limitation on camping on the city beach – no person shall camp on the city beach for a period of time in excess of 3 nights, during any three week period. This regulation will apply on an annual basis. What has changed with the adoption of Ordinance No. 2015-03 is a camping permit requirement for any recreational vehicle. A recreational vehicle (RV) is described as: a motor vehicle or trailer also identified as Class A motorhome – bus conversion, diesel pusher, Class B Motorhome – camper van, Class B+ motorhome, Class C motorhome, truck camper, popup camper, pop-up camper, travel trailer, teardrop trailer, hybrid trailer, fifth-wheel trailer, park model, toterhome and/or toy hauler equipped with living space and amenities found in a home and generally designed or modified for use over unimproved terrain if used for recreation or pleasure off a public way used for the purpose of living or sleeping quarters.
Corpus Christi Cycle Plaza and Sonic Drive-In will be presenting a check to Special Olympics’ Texas athletes from Area 2 on Friday, June 5th, 2015 at 11 a.m. at 2937 S.P.I.D. “We’re very excited to have this chance to present the money we raised directly to the athletes it benefits,” continued Werkhoven. “Working with the wonderful people at Special Olympics to make this event happen was a very positive experience! “ Local businesses contributed raffle items to help Corpus Christi Cycle Plaza and Sonic Drive-In raise money for Special Olympics Texas. Scuttlebutt’s Seafood Bar and Grill, Schlitterbahn, Stripes, Hooters, Joes Crab Shack and C101 all donated prizes which raised over $800 additional dollars for the charity. “These donations, and this kind of community spirit, clearly reflect this city’s love and honor for Chief Simpson,” said Werkhoven. “We were deeply impressed that so many businesses gave so much.”
So if you have motor driven RV and you camp on the beach your cost would be $40.00 for a camping permit for your motorized RV and $12.00 for a beach parking permit. If you are towing a vehicle behind your RV that vehicle would also require a $12.00 beach parking permit. If you camp in a towable-type RV, that is a truck or car pulling a camper/trailer of any type you would be charged $40.00 for the RV camping fee and $12.00 parking permit for your tow vehicle.
Corpus Christi Cycle Plaza has served Corpus Christi since 1986. They are located at 2937 S.P.I.D. Hours of operation are from Tuesday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Additional lavatory facilities are being installed the entire length of the beach to ensure the health, safety and sanitation of the city beaches. City Manager David Parsons stated “We anticipate having toilet facilities installed within three (3) weeks and certainly in time for the July 4th Holiday. And with the purchase and installation of the 300 Gallon Trash Toters we are working to protect our environment and preserve our beach.”
Take a Kid Fishing Saturday, June 6
Beach Camping Permits are available at:
What started over 30 years ago with 13 kids again overwhelmed tournament officials as 243 young participants brought in a variety of fish and “other things” and took home trophies, rods and reels, hooks and sinkers, and other prizes in last years’ "Take A Kid Fishing Tournament". With the continuing success of this popular tournament, the Redfish Bay Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association announced plans for a bigger and better 31st Annual "Take A Kid Fishing Tournament". The tournament format is focused on exposing young boys and girls to the lifelong thrill of fishing and providing an understanding of the importance of conservation to the recreational fishing industry. The primary purpose of the tournament is of course to encourage fathers and mothers to take time from their busy schedules to go fishing with their children. The tournament will once again be held in Port Aransas on Saturday, June 6, 2015. The festivities begin Friday night, June 5th with registration at the tournament's headquarters, Glenn and Judy Martin's Woody's Sports Center in Port Aransas, followed by Judge Duncan Neblett’s famous old fashion Cajun style shrimp boil for all contestants and quests. The purpose of the shrimp boil is to introduce area fisherman to the C.C.A. and to thank those members and friends for their support over the past year. The registration fee for contestants (age 18 and under) is $10.00 which includes a "New Tide" membership in C.C.A.. Adults fish for free, but will be charged $6.00 for the shrimp boil on Friday night. Fishing begins early Saturday morning and will end with a weigh-in at 12:30 o'clock p.m. conducted by local wardens with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department who serve as the tournaments’ weigh masters. Local wardens will also make 4 or 5 of their boats available to take a group of young anglers fishing. There will be a drawing Friday night to see which individuals get to fish with the wardens. Hot dogs with all the trimmings provided by the Doug Daniells family will be served for a nominal fee immediately following the weigh-in. Trophies, sponsored once again by the Port Aransas Boatmen's Association, will be awarded in over 200 categories to the young anglers participating in the tournament beginning immediately following the weigh-in. Area merchants and fishing tackle suppliers will also provide gifts and products that will be awarded. Persons interested in participating in this year’s event can contact either of the tournament's co-chairman, Glenn Martin (361) 749-5252 or Charlie Zahn (361) 749-6687.
(1) City Hall, 710 W. Avenue A, Monday – Friday - from 8am12pm and 1pm - 5pm; (2) Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Bureau, 403 W. Cotter, Monday – Friday 9am-5pm and Saturdays from 9am-3pm; and (3) IGA Family Center, 418 S. Alister, open 7 days a week from 6am – 10pm. Finance Director Darla Honea is in the process of contacting local vendors to sell these permits throughout the City similar to the way beach parking permits are sold. Permits are valid for 1 calendar year. Code Enforcement Officials will be monitoring compliance with this ordinance. Irma G. Parker, City Secretary
Third 2015 Blood Drive June 7 Island Presbyterian Church and Padre Island Rotary Club are jointly sponsoring 6 Blood Drives in 2015 to help support our community’s need for donated blood. The Coastal Bend Blood Center collects nearly 30,000 units of blood each year to supply 13 medical facilities in 10 Coastal Bend counties. The Blood Center provides blood to a service area with more than half a million Coastal Bend residents. DID YOU KNOW? All blood donations collected by the Coastal Bend Blood Center on Sundays and Wednesdays go directly to MD Anderson! Our THIRD Blood Drive of 2015 will be held on Sunday, June 7, from 8:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. The Blood Bus from the Coastal Bend Blood Center will be in IPC’s parking lot on the June 7. If you have never been a blood donor, but would like to give it a try, this is an excellent opportunity. And to top it off, there will be delicious sweet treats for all the donors. If you weigh at least 110 pounds and are at least 17 years old, and in good health, you can donate. Even folks on blood pressure medication, as long as their blood pressure is under control, as well as diabetics, can donate.
Light continued from A1 traffic study, was whether it would cause vehicles to back up to the top of the JFK Bridge at peak times causing high impact collisions. A 2010 traffic count at the intersection found that an average of 27,000 vehicles come over the JFK Causeway each day.
If you are able, please make the decision to be a blood donor – it truly is the GIFT of LIFE! Also, please pass along this information to your friends and neighbors and invite them to donate here at IPC –
Busby’s company will pay a total of $600,000 for the project; $200,000 to lengthen the left turn lane on southbound SPID, and another $400,000 for the light and warning signs as drivers approach the intersection from the causeway.
Many thanks to the donors who gave the GIFT of LIFE at our previous Blood Drives!!
Sunday, June 7, 2015!
Future blood drives are scheduled for August 2, October 4, December 6.
“There will be a radar detector on the bridge that will check a vehicle’s speed and the sign, which will be synced with the light, will warn them if it is about to turn yellow,” Busby said. Busby said he expects the hotel to be open by spring 2016.
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A6
June 4, 2015
Island Moon
Stuff I Heard on the Island
Air Force continued from A1 pooled their money to buy and restore a P-51 Mustang fighter and the Commemorative Air Force was born. They soon bought a pair of F8F Bearcats and their mission became to find a model of every airplane manufactured during the war and restore it to flying condition. The organization was originally known as the Confederate Air Force until 2001 when a membership vote and the named changed to the Commemorative Air Force. In 1965, the CAF built its first museum building consisting of 26,000 square feet at old Rebel Field, Mercedes, Texas. The CAF created a new Rebel Field at Harlingen when they moved there in 1968, occupying three large buildings. Over the years the CAF fleet continued to grow and included medium and heavy bombers such as the B-29, B-25, B-17 and B-24. They have now been collecting aircraft for nearly a half a century and rank as one of the largest air forces in the world. Today the CAF has approximately 9,000 members and a fleet of almost 160 airplanes representing more than 60 different types—including planes from several foreign countries and other military conflicts since World War II.
Schedule of Events 9:00am-11:00am Young Eagle Flights 10:00am Ribbon Cutting with Ram Chavez and Veterans Band 11:15am Mini Airshow with Aerobatic Performances, Jumpers, Warbird Exhibits and Flybys 1:00pm Flight of local area in Stearman biplane and other warbirds 1:00pm Aviation Forum focusing on aviation career opportunities and interesting flying stories (see below for more info) 3:00pm Silent Auction items close World War II movies all day ~ Information Booths featuring EAA and Ninety Nines Tour our New Museum of Military History to see Veterans and Hall of Fame displays and military artifacts Snacks, Lunch, Cold Drinks and Bottled Water available for purchase until gone
The following aircraft are scheduled to
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be at the event: PT17 Stearman from 3rd Coast Stinson L-5 from Hondo Wing PT19 from Houston Wing PT26 from Brownsville Wing T50 from Brownsville L39 from Port Lavaca P51 Mustang from Alice SNJ and numerous other aircraft from McCampbell-Porter Airport P139 Aircobra from San Marcos Wing (only one in world still flying) Zero replicas from Houston (from the movie “Tora, Tora, Tora”)
Aviation Forum Presenters Chris Burnette - Former military helicopter pilot, helicopter test pilot and fixed wing general aviation pilot. He recently retired as an aviation instructor at Del Mar college. In addition Chris is an A&P mechanic with Inspection Authorization. Dianna Stanger - Airport manager and FBO at the Port Lavaca airport. Highly experienced helicopter and fixed wing pilot with a type rating in a Beech Premier 1A jet. She has competed in the women's Air Race Classic the past four years and won it twice. She plans to race her recently acquired L-139 fighter jet trainer at Reno this year. Marie Torres - Supervisory Air Interdiction Agent with U.S. Customs and Border Protection stationed at NAS Corpus Christi. Originally from PR, Marie began her aviation and law enforcement career with the Puerto Rico Police Department in May 1993. She holds ATP/CFII in SEL/MEL/RTC, and is type rated in AW139 Helicopter. She currently supports border security missions flying an AS-350 helicopter. Marie faced many challenges perusing her dream to become a pilot, but her persistence, determination and passion for the aviation prevailed. The Squadron’s mission is to establish and maintain a permanent presence in the community so as to preserve and illustrate the Coastal Bend's involvement in the history of those men and women who served in the past and still serve in today’s military. The Squadron believes in and adheres to the Commemorative Air Force's mission of teaching and preserving history through restoring the aircraft and memories of our veterans.
• Moving • storage • Remodeling • Free up space • home staging
by Dale Rankin Tuesday was a very good day for our Island. State Representative Todd Hunter attended the monthly meeting of the Island Strategic Action Committee for an update on the legislative session just past. The highlight is the passage of a Windstorm Insurance reform bill which he sponsored in the House and which is now on the governor’s desk for signing – with every indication that he will do so before the June 21 deadline. “This was a very good (legislative) session for the Coastal Bend,” Hunter said.
Rush to the restroom Hunter has a quality extremely rare in a politician – modesty. For an area with less than 500,000 citizens to come through this session the way we did is not a “very good” session, it is at the least borderline fantastic and it only happened because Hunter is Chairman of the House Calendars Committee, and, or so it is whispered in the capitol, on the short list to be the next Speaker. That was never more apparent than in the first vote on the Windstorm bill when 80 members voted in favor, but another 40 abstained. Why? Because for them to vote for the bill could cause blowback from voters in their non-Coastal districts: “Why are you voting to help the coast!?” The political course of least resistance was to vote against the bill. But rather than vote against Hunter’s bill they hid in the bathroom when the vote was taken lest their own bills not make it through the Calendars Committee to the floor for a vote. Whether Hunter wants to say it or not, I will, folks that is power. The final vote was 97 – 44.
The new TWIA The TWIA board will now be made up of nine members; three from the insurance industry, three people from the Coastal Counties and three from points inland, but the numbers alone don’t tell the entire tale. The way the bill is written we, Coastal residents and our friends, will have five seats on the nine-person board. We are now in control of Windstorm Insurance thanks to the work of skilled, if modest, politician. What Hunter got done here is no small feat, and yes there were a lot of people who helped, but at the end of the day without Hunter at the head of the Calendars Committee this would not have happened. We owe a debt of gratitude to Islanders Charlie Zahn and Greg Smith who Hunter tapped to shepherd his reform bill in Austin, and Senator Chuy Hinojosa who cosponsored the bill in the Senate. But without Hunter’s involvement it would have been, at best, an uphill fight.
Windstorm Insurance is the last resort for Coastal residents seeking protection from storm damage. It is a public/private entity which uses a bonding structure to incentivize private insurance carriers to write policies they otherwise would not write because of the risk. In recent years Windstorm rates along the coast have increased steadily, at the 5% maximum allowed each year. The problem was two-fold: First, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Board of Directors has been dominated by insurance professionals who rotate between insurance companies and the board; with very little input from ratepayers and very little incentive to hold down rates. Second, eight insurance companies underwrote more than 80% of the windstorm policies and used the state regulatory process as a barrier to entry from competition, allowing them to push rates steadily upward. Both of those things are now changed thanks to Hunter, who made Windstorm reform a keynote in his platform more than four years ago when no one else was talking about it “In the next two to five years you will see Windstorm rates go down,” Hunter told the ISAC audience Tuesday. That will happen through a combination of tenets in the new bill which, aside from changing the makeup of the board, will incentivize out of state companies to write Texas policies. These will mostly be Florida companies where rates are a fraction of Texas rates and the reserve fund several times larger. These companies know how to do Windstorm, but before this bill were essentially blocked from coming into the Texas market. The new bill also restructures the bonding mechanism which will allow the Windstorm reserve fund to be leveraged in case of a major storm.
A modest session But Windstorm wasn’t the only part of the “very good” session for us. Currently there are $25 million in highway improvements approved for The Island; $13 million for the widening of State Highway 361 currently underway in Port Aransas, and another $12 million to add passing lanes to the roadway between Padre Island and Port Aransas. A change, not an increase, in the Hotel/Motel Occupancy tax will provide an additional $3 million annually to help clean area beaches. A cruise ship bill and a desalination bill were also passed. By my estimation that’s a far sight better than a “very good” session – even by modest standards.
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June 4, 2015
A7
Island Moon
Backwater Adventures Summer Winds
On the Rocks By Jay Gardner & Aaron Baxter
By Joey Farah
Well, the monsoon rains have finally eased up on us here in Island Moon territory lately, although many Texas rivers are still out of their banks, and clean up efforts are still occurring in Wimberley. Residents, family, and friends are still in the recovery mode up there and they still need supplies. Please consider donating to some of the organizations that are gathering supplies to send up north. There is the Wimberley Flood Relief of 2015, most of the local food banks, and of course the biggest, oldest, and strongest one, the American Red Cross, specifically the Hill Country Chapter. You can donate goods and supplies to the local chapter over on Brownlee and identify them as for the Wimberley response, or contact the Hill Country Chapter at 333 Earl Garrett Street, Kerrville, TX 78028 or call them at 830-257-4677. There’s even a daily blog you can keep in touch with on the Red Cross Hill Country website to learn the latest.
Farah’s Fishing Adventures Summer has slid over us and the winds laid down on command. Fishermen have been torn this week between running offshore to harvest snapper from federal waters in our 10day season while the gulf is flat and/or finally fish the bay without 30mph winds tearing up the surface. I have been enjoying a good valence of both. Still calm mornings can make fishing the flats difficult in that gamefish feel the presence of the boat, especially in shallow water. I move towards deeper water when there is no wind and conditions make the morning sun reflect like a signal mirror. The edges of the ICW will keep you hooked up with a good consistent current and deeper cool water. The grass line along both sides of the DITCH are full of trout. Look for redfish here as well especially for anglers pitching soft plastics along the edge with a trolling motor. Live shrimp are migrating down the ICW in great numbers right now so the first hour of the day is especially productive. The deep grass lines of Emmorts hole is also holding large amounts of trout for the fishermen issuing live croaker. Down south the windy days have continued to bring the sounds of burning drag to the ears with redfish all over the rocks of Baffin. Live shrimp and popping corks are still working well, but you need some wind. The tide has started to pull out now that the winds have let up. Look for gamefish to start moving towards deeper water during the day as water temps are in the low 80's. We have been sticking and releasing some giant trout while wading with live bait. Let me know when we can plan a adventure and get your family and friends out for a unforgettable day on the water. Follow our hook-up's on FACEBOOK @joey Farah's backwater fishing. GET OUT AND GET WET!
This nice 28 inch trout was caught along the King Ranch Shoreline in dirty water with live croaker. Tight against the beach.
All you loyal readers know that driving in the dunes is illegal, correct? Yeah, I figured you did. Whether you were actually aware that it’s against State law (the Open Beach Act) which is a moving violation and people who cause damage are liable for fines to reconstruct dunes, or whether you just “had a feeling it was wrong.” The problem is that some folks from out of town get fueled up, and/or just plain don’t know better, and cause damage to our natural resources. The dunes are our second line of defense against storm waves (the bars and beach are the first one for wave dissipation) and the dunes are obviously the best for washover protection. Driving on the critical dunes lessens washover protection for all of our homes behind them. David Pearce, Reba from the City Parks, Nueces County Staff, Cliff Schlabach and a few of us others have been trying to raise some awareness lately as some folks are getting lax in “remembering” that it’s illegal to drive in the dunes. David and others have been working with law enforcement to remind them about this recent outbreak of folks destroying dune vegetation. A few tickets handed out should quell that bad habit again for a while. I heard my first chicharra (cicada) singing it’s song yesterday. That typically means that we are headed into a good stretch of hot weather. I would say I’m looking forward to
the hot temperatures and corresponding low wind conditions, but it really doesn’t matter to me lately. Chained to the desk again for the foreseeable future. At least I have a late July trip to Tampa to do some fishing and scalloping, so I have something to look forward to. But, until then, y’all send me some pics of people having fun and catching fish at jaygardner@scientist. com and let me live vicariously through you until I can get out again. Seriously. Send pics please. Help me maintain my sanity. Whatever is left of it. LOL. Ah, its June and school is out. The traffic on the Island looks like it’s the Friday before Memorial Day every day of the week. Lots of people in town, on the beaches, and likely knocking on Schlitterbahn’s door asking if they’re open yet. Traffic in town during lunch looks like it’s 5 o’clock on a Friday and I can’t get in and out of my favorite sportinggoods store in under 45 minutes. Lots of lobster-people buying pool
floaties, or people who haven’t seen the sun in 9 months doing the same thing. Don’t forget the sunscreen folks. For the rest of us working stiffs, the traffic just gets worse, crime and vandalism goes up (lock your stuff up tight), and the hooligans down the way have no reason to keep it quiet after 10pm. (no bitterness, can’t you tell?). Pretty quick my sisters will be in town this weekend with their hooligans, and they’ll be part of the throng out there that forgets their sunscreen too. But, summertime always makes me smile and remember simpler, enjoyable times without a care in the world. Think I’ll try to go out and capture a few moments of that here after work today, even if it is for just a few hours. See you all on the rocks.
Some good family fun with a four person trout limit. Lots of great boxes of trout on live croaker this week. King ranch shoreline.
Tony with a great snapper during our 10 day federal snapper season.
Moon Phases
Tides of the Week Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) June 4-10, 2015
Afternoon winds make fishing for big trout feed. This big trout came from the spoil islands south of bird island.
Day
High /Low
Tide Time
Height in Feet
Th F Sa Su M Tu W
4 High 7:02 AM 1.8 4 Low 10:40 PM -0.4 5 High 7:42 AM 1.8 5 Low 11:24 PM -0.4 6 High 8:21 AM 1.8 6 7 Low 12:12 AM -0.2 7 High 8:56 AM 1.7 8 Low 1:06 AM 0.0 8 High 9:26 AM 1.5 8 Low 5:08 PM 0.8 8 High 7:13 PM 0.9 9 Low 2:08 AM 0.3 9 High 9:52 AM 1.4 9 Low 5:09 PM 0.7 9 High 9:37 PM 0.9 10 Low 3:28 AM 0.6 10 High 10:14 AM 1.3 10 Low 5:34 PM 0.4 10 High 11:48 PM 1.1
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
Moon Visible
6:33 AM Set 8:28 AM 8:21 PM Rise 10:18 PM 6:33 AM Set 9:27 AM 8:22 PM Rise 11:09 PM 6:33 AM Set 10:28 AM 8:22 PM Rise 11:56 PM 6:33 AM Set 11:30 AM 8:23 PM 6:33 AM Rise 12:41 AM 8:23 PM Set 12:31 PM
98
6:33 AM Rise 1:24 AM 8:23 PM Set 1:33 PM
59
6:33 AM Rise 2:06 AM 8:24 PM Set 2:35 PM
48
94 88 80 70
A8
June 4, 2015
Island Moon
SPORTS Sports Talk
The 5 All-Time Greatest Scorers in NBA Postseason History
By Dotson Lewis
Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s Note: I thought a little history lesson would be in order for the first game of the 2015 NBA Championships. For NBA fans it should be a very interesting series and could very well go the full seven games. My primary interest is the officials and the way the game is officiated. Moon Monkeys who are fans will most likely be critical of the performance of the players and coaches, and as always very critical of the officials. I as a practical, objective and “expert” observer will tell you how each participant of each group performed. My thanks to Jason Alsher, sports writer for The Cheat Sheet, for many of the facts contained in this article.
unlike the NBA had ever seen. He was so strong and dominant that if he had position on a defender, good luck preventing the Diesel from scoring. That’s how he was able to accumulate 5,250 total points during his 17 trips to the NBA playoffs. In his 216 career playoff games, Shaq finished fourth in rebounds (2,508), third in field goals (2,041), and fourth in blocks (459). O’Neal was also able to capture four NBA championships and three Finals MVP awards.
3. Kobe Bryant
Someday LeBron James May Break Into the Greatest Playoff Scorers Top 5
There is probably no player in the NBA more scrutinized than LeBron James. And with the 2015 NBA Playoffs in full swing, he will surely find himself under the microscope now more than ever. He has managed to conquer his playoff demons by taking home two NBA championships, but this year’s quest is a completely different animal. He is now back home with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the expectations are sky high. This is James’s opportunity to prove that he can lead a group of new faces through the postseason ringer. And yet, despite being one of the players with the most on the line, King James doesn’t seem to be affected by the pressure.
Postseason points: 5,640-Most players would be more than satisfied with an NBA career that spanned 19 seasons and produced five NBA titles. But that’s what separates Kobe Bryant from the pack: He is hardly ever content. Never mind that he’s played in 220 postseason games, scored 5,640 points, racked up 1,119 rebounds, and made 2,014 field goals. He still hasn’t played in the postseason since the 2011-2012 season, and he’s no closer to winning the sixth championship that he covets so dearly. Bryant is nearing the end of his career and has nothing left to prove to anyone. But for the Los Angeles Lakers lifer, the quest for greatness has more to do with himself than anything else. And that is why we will miss him when he finally chooses to walk away from the sport.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The Cavaliers took Game 1 from the Boston Celtics by a score of 113-100, and James found himself making historical moves in the process. The King had seven assists in the contest, but his fourth on the night allowed him to pass Michael Jordan for the ninth most in playoff history. Anytime you make history in the NBA, it’s a big deal, but there’s something extra special about passing Air Jordan (just ask Kobe). While basketball fans have profound respect for the assist, most people are more interested in scoring. And in that respect, the four-time MVP can climb up the postseason ladder as well. James has the eight-highest total in NBA playoff history. After his second game in the playoffs he was only 18 points away from tying the great Jerry West for seventh on the list, and there was still plenty of basketball to be played. This would certainly be an impressive accomplishment, but James will have to work extra hard for the rest of his career if he wishes to be the top player on this list. With that in mind, here are the five all-time greatest scorers in NBA postseason history.
5. Tim Duncan
Postseason points: 5,762-In his 20 seasons in the NBA, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in the postseason 18 times. Not only did he achieve team success by winning six NBA championships, but he accomplished plenty from an individual standpoint. His 5,762 total points were good enough for second on the alltime list, and the No. 2 also represents the total Finals MVP awards he captured. Jabbar’s 2,356 field goals are the most ever, his 8,851 minutes played are second all time, and he’s fifth in rebounds, with 2,481 in total. And although we are specifically covering playoff scoring, it should also be noted that this Hall of Famer is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, with 38,387 points. But in the postseason, there can be only one top scorer. That distinction goes to…
1. Michael Jordan
Gridiron Nicknames Crazylegs boarded the Night Train while dodging Bullets and Tombstones By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon Nicknames are considered a rite of passage in the NFL. You must earn your nickname. Even if they are funny, they are said with respect. Nicknames place players at a higher level of affection. Sometimes if you achieve greatness, your nickname may last forever. The good teams and most extraordinary players all have nicknames.
Night Train Lane Here are a few of the nicknames I read about in the newspapers before football was televised: Bears’ linebacker, Clyde “Bulldog” Turner was tough against the run. Chicago’s Harold “Red” Grange was known as “The Galloping Ghost” and received his nickname because no one could catch him. Chicago Bears’ fullback, “Bronko” Nagurski was a man among boys. Washington’s quarterback was called “Slingin’” Sammy Baugh because of his ability to throw accurate passes downfield. Rams’ Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch had an unusual running style, and Lions’ cornerback, Dick “Night Train” Lane, received his nickname because of his fear of flying. Lane rode a night train to all away games, as the rest of his team flew.
4. Shaquille O’Neal
Postseason points: 5,250-In his prime, Shaquille O’Neal was an unstoppable force
Postseason points: 5,987-His Airness dominated the competition in playoff scoring throughout his remarkable career. Although he only made 13 trips to the postseason, it helped that M.J. averaged 33.4 points per game. If you’re looking to be the best scorer in playoff history, that’s pretty much how you do it. But if you’re looking for something even more impressive, think about the fact that Jordan won six NBA championships in six attempts, and the Chicago Bulls never played in a Game 7 in any of those Finals appearances. He also took home the Finals MVP each and every time. It’s no wonder No. 23 is considered by many as the greatest to ever play the game. Dotson’s Other Note: Do you think that LeBron will break into the Top 5 NBA Playoff Scorers this year? How many points does he need? Your suggestions, comments, 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
Big Daddy and Fatsos L.A. Ram’s linebacker, Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, got his nickname by cutting a 1953 Chevy in half with a hacksaw after a loss. Ted “Mad Stork” Hendricks received his nickname because of his unusual height, 6’7”, as a linebacker for the Steelers, and the king of linebackers may very well have been New York Giant’s “L.T.,” otherwise named Lawrence Taylor. Cowboys Cliff Harris was called “Captain Crash” because he ran into everyone on his team or theirs and Charlie Waters nicknamed Dallas cornerback Aaron Mitchell, “A.M. P.M.” “If he hit you in the morning, you didn’t wake up until the afternoon,” said Waters. Oakland’s defensive back, Jack Tatum, carried the moniker of “The Assassin” because of his brutality while tacking a ball carrier. Defensive tackle, Randy White, played for
Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch The stories that are attached to the nicknames are also fun and worth telling. Here are a few you may have never heard of. Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback, Kenny Anderson, was called “Candlelight” said wide receiver, Chris Collinsworth, “Because when he received one blow, he was out.” Rams quarterback, Pat Haden, was called “Rhodes” by his teammates as in Rhodes Scholar, because he knew the answer to everything. Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back, Rocky Bleier, was referred to as “Prune Juice” because he was slow and steady. Green Bay running back Paul Hornung was called “The Golden Boy” by the press but was known as “Goat Shoulders” to his teammates, because of his build. One of Hornung’s teammates, Ray Nitschski, was called “The Judge” because he sat on the bench so long at the beginning of his career that he said he felt like a judge. Wes Welker received his nickname “Slot Machine” for his ability to line up in the slot and catch passes. My pal linebacker, Shane Nelson, of the Buffalo Bills was called “Dr. No” as in no hole, no gain. Robstown’s very own Gene Upshaw was nicknamed “Highway 63” by his teammates. Upshaw wore the #63 and had no problems creating a lane for the Raiders’ running backs. Rams’ tackle, Merlin Olsen, was called “Muley” by his teammates because he was raised on a farm and was stubborn. The media referred to Rams’ David Jones as “The Deacon,” but he was also called “Swamp Boy.” The grace and running style of Lance Alworth earned him the title of “Bambi.”
Of Bullets and Tombstones What Oilers’ fan can forget wide receiver Billy “White Shoes” Johnson and of course, Oakland’s Dave “The Ghost” Casper. Chicago Bears’ “Iron Mike” Ditka, Cowboys’ “Bullet Bob” Hayes, and Baltimore Colts’ Lenny “Spats” Moore are some of my all-time favorites. I also loved Denver defensive end, Rich “Tombstone” Jackson.
Postseason points: 4,999-Now in his 18th season in the NBA, Tim Duncan continues to prove that he can compete at the highest level. Considering the San Antonio Spurs were once again back in the NBA playoffs this year, Duncan had no problem adding to his already impressive points total. The Big Fundamental has been fortunate enough to play for a franchise that consistently makes it into the postseason — this was his 17th trip. Aside from being No. 5 on the list of all-time greatest postseason scorers, Duncan has the third-most rebounds in playoff history (2,744), is fourth in total games (235), fifth in made field goals (1,904), and first in total blocks (547). He is sure to be on other postseason lists, but the only number that really matters is five: the number of NBA championships he’s won.
name of his hometown in his nickname as he was referred to as “The Tyler Rose.” The Miami’s backfield duo of Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick were known as “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” “The Diesel,” known as John Riggins of the Washington Redskins, was fun to watch. The “A-Train,” Mike Alstott of the Tampa Bay Bucs, was as hard to bring down as a freight train.
Clyde “Bulldog” Turner the Dallas Cowboys and became known as the “Manster,” (Half Man, Half Monster). “Mean Joe” Greene may have the most recognized nickname, thanks to a Coke commercial. William “Refrigerator” Perry not only played tackle for the Chicago Bears, but also ran a few touchdowns in near the goal line. Cowboys offensive tackle, Flozell “The Hotel” Adams was 6’7” and weighed 340 pounds, or about the same amount as a small hotel. Baltimore Colts’ tackle, Art Donavan, was simply called “Fatso” because of his large frame, and the nickname for his teammate, “Big Daddy” Gene Lipscomb, speaks for itself. Linebacker “Chuck” Bednarik of the Eagles was called “Concrete Charlie” because of his hard hits. Don’t forget Alex Karras who was nicknamed the “Mad Duck” because of his short legs. Deion “Prime Time” Sanders of the Cowboys had the ability to come up with a big play when needed. Making big plays from the wide receiver position was what he did best and Michael Irvin of the Dallas Cowboys would be referred to as the “Playmaker.” “Broadway Joe” was none other than Joe Namath, who quarterbacked the New York Jets to the AFC’s first Super Bowl win. “Joe Cool” described S.F. 49ers quarterback, Joe Montana, who had no problem staying cool under pressure. Ken “The Snake” Stabler was a fine quarterback and hard to sack for the Oakland Raiders and “Captain Comeback” was given to Dallas quarterback, Roger Staubach for his ability to make good things happen at the end of the game. Some of the newer nicknames recently include “RG3” for quarterback Robert Griffin, III, of the Washington Redskins. Of course Seattle running back, Marshawn Lynch, is known as “Beast Mode” and Pittsburgh quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, is called simply “Big Ben.” “Johnny Football” Manziel was all the rage last year. And last but not least, we have “Gronk,” a shorter version of his real name, Rob Gronkowski. These are just a few of the many nicknames. There are literally hundreds more. Who are your favorites? You can send your favorites to Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session Facebook page or email me at purvis.andy@mygrande.net.
Joe “The Jet” Perry Gayle Sayers played at the University of Kansas and became known as the “Kansas Comet” for his speed. Eugene “Mercury” Morris terrified defenses from the Miami Dolphins’ backfield for many years, while Cowboys’ Daryl “Moose” Johnston led the way for “Touchdown” Tony Dorsett. Another Chicago Bear running back that wowed everyone was known as “Sweetness.” Walter Payton would earn this nickname because of his slick running style and flamboyant personality. The 49er’s Joe “The Jet” Perry was well known, as was Alan “The Horse” Ameche of the Colts. Houston Oiler’s Earl Campbell would carry the
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.
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