Issue 560
Photo by Miles Merwin
FREE
The
Free
Island Moon
Weekly The voice of The Island since 1996
January 8, 2015
Around The Island By Dale Rankin
New Gambling Boat Arrives
editor@islandmoon.com
There is a new soundtrack for the New Year and it’s punctuated with coughs and sneezes. The flu season is upon us and The Island is wheezing. The number of cases is up about thirty percent across the state and an outdated flu vaccine may be to blame according to the medical types. The good news is that protocols put in place for the Ebola scare have helped hospitals cope with the jump in flu cases. It is truly an ill wind that doesn’t blow somebody some good.
Winter Texans A few Winter Texans have begun to straggle in this week. We still haven’t seen the RV Invasion we have experienced the past couple of years but just give it a week or so. You can tell how many Winter Texans are here by counting heads at The Gaff this Saturday afternoon for the Belt Sander Races. And just for the record it’s not true that people only go there to see belt sanders crash. They also go for Chicken Bingo.
The installation of a new traffic light on South Padre Island Drive at the Aquarius intersection hit a snag Tuesday night when the Island Strategic Action Committee, which last month voted to approve the light pending several conditions, pulled back and requested more information and some changes at the intersection before the light goes in.
Kyle Alston stands in front of the new 155 foot gambling boat, Jacks or Better By Ronnie Narmour
She’s a 155-fooot gambling boat that holds up to 250 people and will start making runs offshore in March, according to Tarpon Shores owner Kyle Alston. Alston says the boat was previously docked in Myrtle Beach,
She came cruising in through the jetties this week. Her name is Jacks or Better and her new home is the Tarpon Shores bait and beer stand located on the road between the Port Aransas ferry and Aransas Pass.
The owners of the boat are based out of Las Vegas and will offer two six-hour trips daily. The boat has two craps tables, a roulette wheel, and slots.
Statistics show that about 80% of the people who visit the Coastal Bend are here for the beaches and way the beaches are maintained is through the sale of beach permits. The stickers are good from January to January and allows access to area beaches except the Padre Island National Seashore, and Mustang Island State Park which charge separate fees. Approximately six miles of beach in Kleberg County, starting 1.2 miles south of Bob Hall Pier, do not require a sticker, and Mustang Island State Park charges a separate fee.
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The fish are biting, the weather is on and off, and Barefoot Mardi Gras is just a few weeks away. We’ll see you there. In the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.
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Mustang Island Park
BEACH ACCESS ROAD 3
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The Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department now has 2015 Beach Parking Permits available for purchase. Permits are sold on the beach every week during the summer season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and year-round at the following locations: Stripes stores, local H-E-B stores, Academy Sports store, Central Cashiering at Corpus Christi City Hall, Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi/ITT Department, Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Center, Nueces County Padre Balli Park Headquarters Office, and Texas Star (on Padre Island). This year, two more outlets were added to purchase the permits: CVS Pharmacy (Padre Island location only) and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
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BEACH ACCESS ROAD 3-A
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BEACH ACCESS ROAD 5 Padre Balli Park
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GULF OF MEXICO
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Frostbite Betty and Bert are back in town for the winter The drive from the Canadian border to the Gulf beach has not gotten any shorter, but we did make it in for a rockin' New Year's Eve on the Giggety's dance floor. What a way to shake out the miles from the road! And don'tcha know the weather up in Frostbite Falls turned to deep freeze just after we left.
South Carolina. It has four levels, one of which is non-smoking.
2015 Beach Parking Permits Are Available Now
We’ve included some Winter Texan stuff in this issue.
Frostbite Betty and Bert are back in Port A!
New Island Traffic Light Goes from Green to Amber
By Dale Rankin
Schlitterbahn One local television news operation kicked up some dust this week with a story under the headline, “Schlitterbahn in Financial Trouble.” What the headline should have said is “Schlitterbahn Owes Some Contractors Money.” As we reported here a couple of issues back the developers at the park are going through a refinancing due to the expanded scale of the park. Paul Schexnailder told the Island Strategic Action Committee Tuesday night that the park is still expected to be open this summer.
Update on Island projects
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Padre Island National Seashore
Beach Parking Zones
City of Corpus Christi, Nueces & Klebreg Counties Legend
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Corpus Christi City Limits Nueces / Kleberg County Line 0
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The committee, which did not take a formal vote on the matter, stressed that changes to the intersection including an additional turn lane and warning signs on the JFK Causeway need to be done before the light is installed. The San Antonio real estate firm of Turner Busby Development owns nine acres on the east side of SPID at the location and has requested the light. The firm has plans to build a $30 million development called Packery Pointe which would include a 101 room motel 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. Turner Busby has agreed to pay $300,000 for the light and signals on the JFK bridge to warn drivers that there is a light ahead.
Traffic Light continued on A6
Inside the Moon
Farah's Backwater A7
On the Rocks A7
For more information, please call 361-826-3423 or 361-826-3469, or visit www.ccparkandrec.com (click ‘Beaches’). We invite you to Live. Learn. Play!
Coordinate System: NAD 83 TX SP SC | Imagery: 2012 | T Tijerina | Oct 17, 2014 | BeachParkingZones.mxd
The Columbus Jinx Editor’s note: The following story first ran in the Indian Country Today Media Network. By Steve Russell
What we left behind We've been driving around the island checking on our familiar beaches and such; Bert noticed he is driving 20 mph in a 30 zone. "Look at that," he said, "I'm driving like a Winter Texan. I even have a Minnesota plate on the car." Ha, and this is after his previous fourteen years as a Coastal Bend-er. Y'all just give us a honk and a wave if you get stuck behind. Familiar friendly faces are everywhere we go. Plenty of "How ya doin'?" and "What was your summer like?" "Wanna get into MahJong?" "Can you show me that crafting thing from last year again, I forgot." As familiar as it feels here, I still had to ask directions to the mayonnaise in the IGA. Yup, we are loving it. Thanks for the friendly welcome, Port A!
Sports A8
Christoforo Columbo, most of us learn only as adults, was not Spanish. He would have been Italian if Italy had existed at the time. As it was, he was Genoan, a citizen of the Republic of Genoa. Because he would have sailed under a Spanish flag if Spain had existed in 1492, we consider his quest for a western route to India a Spanish undertaking. In fact, the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon to Isabella I of Castile had formed the political basis for the Spanish Empire and the Genoan hired hand known to them as Cristóbal Colón would provide the legal basis in “Christian discovery” of the “New World,” a concept the Roman Papacy would later wrap in moral authority. The man we misidentify as Christopher Columbus set out for a land he misidentified as India
Adventures with the TSA A14 Voyages of Columbus under a flag commonly misidentified as Spanish and proceeded to terrorize the Taino people who discovered him in the Caribbean. He never realized the riches or the status he coveted and his later life was snake bitten, jinxed. Whether Columbus was cursed literally by the Tainos he had
wronged cannot be known—they certainly cursed him figuratively— but he lived out his years in poor health and poverty, his life as much a jinx as his voyages. Some of the Columbus jinx recently rubbed off on the city of
History continued on A5
Live Music A16
A2
January 8, 2015
Island Moon
Beach Trash Moon Reader Rowan Shipman sent us these pictures of trash left behind by revelers near the South Packery Jetty over the New Year’s weekend. The Beach Bums report that the beach was clean the evening before then sometime overnight a group of partiers left behind this mess. City crews, or the Beach Bums, will clean it up, unless they find out who left it and then they will encourage them to clean it up themselves.
Lisa and Adelyn Stevens took the Island Moon along to visit their cousin Ray at Dancing Bear Lodge, Chama, New Mexico.
3:35pm
Saturday January 10th
7:15pm
Padre Island's Only Bar & Grill on the Beach ~ Bob Hall Pier • Padre Balli Park ~
FOOTBALL GAME DAY SPECIALS (available during playoff games)
Beer Specials Bucket of 6 Bottled Beers....$12 Domestic $15 Import Lone Star Spectacular (Bucket of 6 16oz. Lonestar Cans) $10 $3.50 Import $3.00 Domestic $2.00 Lone Star and Smirnoff
Schlitterbahn Playoff Bone-In Wings (min. order of 5) 40¢ wings 25¢ wings during Cowboys game
Drink Specials Quarterback Sack Red Bull, Blue Curacao with a drop shot of Deep Eddy Vodka $4.00 Penalty Flag Your Choice of Beer with a Shot as determined by our penalty board (Jack Daniels, Cuervo Gold, Fireball, Goldsclager, Rumple Minze, Jager Meirster) $5.50 with Spin $7.50 your call from Wheel Cheerleader Cooler Passion Fruit Cruzan, Cruzan Light, Pinnapple, Cranberry, Grenadine, and a Splash of Sprite served on the rocks in a pint glass and garnished with pineapple and cherry. $4.50
Sunday January 11th 12:05pm
Schlitterbahn Finger Foods $4.00 or Choice of Two $7.00 Mini Corn Dogs, Homemade Onion Rings or Potato Skins
Touchdown Platter of Wings (25) / Bucket of Beer (6) $18.99 Domestic $20.99 Import Available Sauces (Buffalo, Thai Chile, BBQ, Garlic Parmesean, Louisiana Hot Sauce) Food Specials Linebacker Bacon Cheeseburger accompanied by our own hand-breaded onion rings ... $ 6.99
Happy Hour Daily 3-7
Shrimp Boil Every Wednesday!
16" Pepperoni and Cheese Pizza Additional toppings extra. $10.99 Nachos Blitz Refried beans and cheese topped with chunks of chicken or fajita. (Jalapenos upon request) Full Order$7.99 1/2 Order $5.99
Monday January 12th National Championship (open til 11:00pm)
Open for Breakfast Saturday & Sunday 7 am
7:30pm 3:40pm
Live Music on Weekends
January 8, 2015
Island Moon
Moon Monkeys
Letters to the Editor
Did Ya Hear?
PINS
Mike Ellis, Founder
by Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com or @padreeyelander on twitter
Dear Interested Party,
Ron Harms article in the Island Moon Dan, thanks so much for the kind words. I truly love keeping our heroes from the past alive with my thoughts and words. Anytime my writing touches someone in a special way and moves them to write me, then I know I have accomplished my task. Coach Harms was the man and now that the program has suffered some poor results lately, I wanted to remind everyone of the program I fell in love with when I moved to Corpus Christi.
Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising
I would also invite you to share this story with your friends and teammates as the Moon is only available on the Island. I will place this story next week on my ESPN blog and you will also find this story in the Metro-Leader Magazine that everyone in Corpus should receive this week in their mailbox for free.
Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox
To see ESPN blog—go to www.espncorpus. com, press blogs on menu line. then press Uncle Andy on dropdown. You can read my articles back for several months.
Chad Peters
If you enjoy my writing style, please visit www.purvisbooks.com. All of my last three books are available online, and at the local Barnes & Noble Book Store. Happy New Year “Dirty” Dan Sutton and thanks again.
Todd Hunter
Andy Purvis
Mary Craft t Christiansen Jay Gardner
Dotson Lewis
From the Island Moon Facebook Page…
Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)
The concern I have is the tax rate increases, POA rate increases, the homeowner’s insurance rate increases will force my standard of living to lower. I love the driving access of the beach, the wild life in this area, the ability to hunt and fish, and be close to a city with an airport, great medical resources, the arts, restaurants, educational facilities, and nature centers. I was born and raised in southern Florida, I choose to live here because the view of the water is not blocked by cement structures and everyone has access to the beach and living here is affordable. Please ask yourself, do we the people need more cement structures? And more taxes?
In response to the continued decline of colonial waterbird populations, the National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to develop a management plan for the dredge spoil islands and two natural islands occurring within the Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) boundary of the Laguna Madre in exas. In accordance with the Organic Act of 1916 and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, the proposed plan intends to introduce active conservation management techniques benefitting nesting colonial waterbirds. Project goals aim to: 1) protect PAIS natural resources while maintaining or enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities; 2) protect and assist recovery of various colonial waterbird species utilizing the island for nesting, roosting and loafing habitat; 3) mitigate erosion and marine debris accumulation; and 4) reduce the impairment of native ecosystems from exotic vegetation. Management techniques may include a variety of approaches including improved methods of shoreline, predator, pest and vegetation management. An Environmental Assessment (EA) will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to provide the decision-making framework that : 1) analyzes a reasonalble range of alternatives to meet project objectives, 2) evaluates issues and impacts to national seashore resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts. The NPS encourages public participation throughout the NEPA process. The public has two opportunities to formally comment on the project; once during initial project scoping and again following the release of the Draft EA. We are currently in the scoping phase of ths project and invite you to submit your written comments online at NPS Planning, Envirounment and Public Comment website at http://parkplanning. nps.gov/pais. If you are not able to submit comments electronically through this website or wish to remove your name from the mailing list, please submit written comments to: Padre Island National Seashore Attn: Spoil Island Rookery Management Plan P.O. Box 181300 Corpus Christi, TX 78480
PINS
Karen Kerr Shaffer Weis 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
Sandpiper Condos WB Liquors Port A Arts
Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A
North Padre
A Mano
All Stripes Stores
Coffee Waves
CVS
Moby Dicks
Whataburger
Spanky’sLiquor
Doc’s Restaurant
IGA Grocery Store
Isle Mail N More
Carter Pharmacy
Island Italian
San Juan’s Taqueria
Ace Hardware
Wash Board Laundry Mat
Texas Star (Shell)
Pioneer RV Park
Port A Parks and Rec Public Library
Snoopy’s Pier
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
Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station Police Station Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
I'm still waiting for the explanation of the water building up in the ditches along Park Road 22. Fallout from Schlitterbahn construction... disrupting the ecosystem of the water table? Kris Kimble Rohnstock Editor’s note: When the new canals were dug on the Schlitterbahn site they filled with groundwater at a rate of about nine inches per day. As we have reported before there is a layer of fresh water – rain water – which floats on top of the layer of salt water below. The layer of fresh water is about 40 feet thick but only a few feet are above the salt water line. The water you are seeing in the ditches has made its way there from the seepage in the new canals. Once the bulkheads are in place it will be confined to the canals. To see another example of this fresh water making its way to the surface look at the two “ponds” along the road leading into Bob Hall Pier from SPID. When they were dug last November they had about a foot of water in them, now after rains in the interim the water is much deeper and has become a favorite hangout for Island birds. You will also notice there is some water standing in the ditches south of Whitecap. We are literally walking around on a fresh water lake down there. This is the water that will be used to fill the pond at Billish Park and will irrigate the park. Does anyone know if there plans to build another cause way? One could be built to run from Yorktown Road to the South end of North padre and connect to Park Rd 22. Or have a causeway be built about fuve miles South of Port Aransas ; run across Corpus Christi bay and connect to 37 down town Corpus. It should run parallel to ship channel. Heck....built both of them. A fact. ..The Island is growing. Noe T.Cantu Editor’s note: There are some very preliminary talks to build a new causeway that would connect from Yorktown to the south end of The Island, either at Sea Pines or further south. TxDot has held some public forums to that effect, and in fact there are some plans to expand Yorktown in the not so distant future in a way that would make it compatible as a connection to a new causeway. But these plans are well into the future. The massive cost of the new Harbor Bridge will mean that TxDot funds for large projects in this region such as a new causeway will be hard to come by for a long time. Keep in mind that the fingertips at the end of Sea Pines – more than twenty of them – won’t be developed for at least ten years and probably longer. As for a causeway across the bay, there are no plans we are aware of. If the Eagle Ford downturn gets worse you will see a long and hard recession in this state. Not only the Eagle Ford but you also have to include West Texas plays. I don't think it’s going to be that bad. I’s a little funny that now things are going south with oil the water park is also having problems too ?. They may not have anything to do with each other. One thing is for sure. A downturn in Texas oil production will spell disaster for investors in this Upper Padre movement.
Dear Interested Party The National Park Service (NPS) will be preparing an environmental assessment (EA) to analyze the environmental effects of a proposed Interpretive Trail and Boardwalk for Padre Island National Seashore, Texas. The proposed Boardwalk will provide visitors to the Seashore a chance to see the historic features and to learn about the island’s ranching history. The trail will be constructed through the sand dunes to the northwest of the Novillo Line Camp. Construction through the dunes will mitigate the visual impact of the boardwalk within the historic landscape and will avoid impacts from construction in wetlands. Included in the EA will be an analysis of potential future projects within the Novillo Cultural Landscape. These include a projectto restore and protect wetlands whthin the reclaimed oyster shell to allow hydraulic connectivity thorugh the road. Another possible project would be to replace in kind the windmill and tanks removed from the site in the late 1970s. the windmill and tanks could provide water for protecting the historic features from wildfire and provide a source of freshwater for windlife during drought conditions. The environmental assessment prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will provide the decisionmaking framework that 1) analyzes a reasonable range of alternative to meet project objectives. 2) evaluates issues and impacts to National Seashore resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measure to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts. The National Park Service encourages public participation throughout the NEPA process. The public has two opportunities to formally comment on the project; once during initial project scoping and again following the release of the Draft EA. We are currently in the scoping phase of this project and invite you to submit your written comments online at NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/pais.
Ferry Hi Dale Absolutely amazing at 10:30 this morning we waited for 30 minutes to get on the ferry. They had cars lined up on both sides and what happened was unbelievable. The cars were crisscrossing one another to get to the ferry. Yes we were on the left side and ended up getting on a ferry on the right side. The cars on the right side naturally got on the one where we were. Then while on the ferry we waited and waited and finally a ferry from the other side left and we then leftbut we had to wait in the channel while the ferry on the right side docked. What a mess and a dozen cars were backed up on the Aransas Pass side waiting. WOO when Sandfest and spring break comes some will be waiting to get on the Island when they're supposed to be leaving. People have said this contractor has made a mess and the bewildered faces on the employees tells it all. They don't even know what they are doing. Stoney McGerald Port Aransas TX
Johnny and Madelyn Haas My question is if you budget a project based on specific plans and the project starts to expand shouldn't someone stop that expansion before it gets to this point? If the project required the expansion who and why wasn't that recognized from the get go. Hope they get it worked out quick - We all don't want to see that section of the Island remain a construction site indefinitely. Devon Hussey
Send Letters to the editor to
Editor@IslandMoon.com
A3
New Advertisers La Playa Mexican Grill in Port A has all you can eat, grilled shrimp, beef or chicken fajitas with all the trimmings for $10.95 every Tuesday for dinner. Professional Landscape Design offers consultation and site visit to help beautify your outdoor living. Some of the items available for discussion are pavestone pavers, pergolas, rock alternative ground cover, raised planters, firepits and outdoor kitchens. Call 867-1551 for an appointment. The Flour Bluff Independent School District will have a public hearing on the Texas Academic Performance Report on Wednesday, January 21st at 5:30 pm at the central office board room 2505 Waldron. Parents and community members are encouraged to give input regarding the district’s educational performance. Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA is offering beginner classes starting Wednesday, January 14th at the Anchor Resort 4th floor. Call 244-0343 for more info.
Business Briefs Jacks or Better Casino Boat has arrived at Tarpon Shores Bait Stand on the road between Port A and Aransas Pass and will begin two 6 hour cruises daily in March. Costa Sur Restaurant has completed their expansion and is almost three times the size. A long L-shaped bar has been added with several big screen TVs and more tables. The Barefoot Mardi Gras Parade will begin on the beach on Saturday, February 14th at 11 am. The King and Queen Ball will be celebrated at the Veranda/Schlitterbahn 6 – 9 pm. Recycle your Christmas tree at the Padre Island Property Owners Association at 14015 Fortuna Bay on January 17th 9 am 3 pm. They will also be accepting trees in Flour Bluff at the Walmart and Flour Bluff High School gym parking lot. If you cannot participate on the recycle date you can set your tree out during the scheduled brush dates January 25th - February 2nd. PA Rockers are back at Bernie’s in Port A every Wednesday 6:30 – 9:30 pm. They will be setting up a restricted area for smokers so the dancers can dance smoke-free. The Padre Island Business Association Monthly Mixer and the Barefoot Mardi Gras Kick-Off Party #1 will be held at Mikel May’s Beach Bar & Grill on Tuesday, January 20th at 5:30 pm. The Fish House at 224 E. Cotter in Port A has Happy Hour Monday thru Saturday 5-7 with $3 House Margaritas and Mojitos and also fresh raw oysters for $9.95. The Veranda Restaurant at Schlitterbahn is having Game Day Specials for the NFL playoffs on the weekend and for the NCAA football championship on Monday night. There will be drink and food specials. The City-Wide Garage Sale in Port A will be held on Saturday, January 17th. If you would liket your site listed contact Pam Greene at 749-4158 and if you would like a table at the Community Center contact Darlene Secich at 749-7144.
Coastal Bend Republican Liberty Caucus Meeting We look forward to seeing you! Tuesday, January 13, 2015 Russo's Coal Fired Italian Kitchen 6418 S. Staples, Suite 124 Corpus Christi Our guest speaker will be Dr. Bill Chriss. 2016 will be here before we know it, let's see what we can learn from the 2014 election results so... Join us and our very special guest, Dr. Bill Chriss, as he presents the November Election results along with his analysis and insight. Bill Chriss is a trial and appellate lawyer who handles a large number of complex lawsuits, arbitrations, and appeals. Over the years, his colleagues have entrusted him with several important positions within the legal profession, including Dean of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics. Although an accomplished lawyer, Dr. Chriss is also a recognized scholar and published author. He is a frequent television and radio commentator on legal and political issues, has been a regular ...newspaper columnist, has hosted his own commercial radio program, and has produced, written, and narrated a public television documentary. In 2005, the Texas Bar Foundation named Dr. Chriss the recipient of the statewide Dan R. Price Award for service to the legal profession and excellence in teaching and scholarly writing. His first book, The Noble Lawyer, was published by Texas Bar Books in 2011, and his second book, Six Constitutions over Texas, will soon be published by The University of Texas Press. A believer in life-long learning, Dr. Chriss holds graduate degrees in law, theology, history, and politics. He grew up in Corpus Christi and attended Ray High School and The University of Texas where he was nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship. He was then accepted to Harvard Law School where he became one of the youngest members of his graduating class. After that, while maintaining his busy law practice, Dr. Chriss taught Judicial Politics, Political Philosophy, History, and Constitutional Law within the Texas A&M University system. In his spare time he also earned three more degrees, including a Ph.D. in History at The University of Texas under the acclaimed American historian H.W. Brands, who recently described Dr. Chriss as “his best student.”
A4
Letters to the Editor
POA
POA Community Center
Attention: The Board Of Directors POA Subject: The “Community Center” Greetings: We have reviewed and evaluated “The Padre Isles Property Owners Association Bylaws”, our specific neighborhood “Commodores Cove Unit “1” Covenants”, all available minutes of “The Board of Directors Meetings”, “The Balance Sheets” from the annual meeting, the questions/answers in the local paper, The Moon. We have spoken individually to Board Members and The Executive Coordinator related to the Community Center. Additionally, We have consulted informally with Legal Counsel with knowledge of such subjects. We have some respectful thoughts, observations and prayers that we feel should be respectfully evaluated before any financial commitments are made or the “start” of any construction. 1. The action taken at the March 2014 POA Annual Meeting, of which some of us were present, on whether to build a community center is legally ineffective according to the Covenants and PIOA Bylaws. No specific resolutions to construct a $2.3 million Community Center were passed at such meeting. In fact, construction of a $2.3 million Community Center in Billish Park has never been approved by the members at any duly-called special or annual meeting nor have the members authorized the POA to borrow funds or mortgage any of its assets much less a portion of a city owned Billish Park or any improvement thereon. 2. Any action taken at the “Town Hall Meeting” on November 13, 2014 is legally ineffective to authorize the POA to construct the Community Center, borrow funds or mortgage POA assets. The Town Hall Meeting does not qualify as a special meeting for the following reasons: a. No meeting notice was sent to members of the POA in compliance with Paragraph 1.05, which requires a notice to members at the address appearing on the POA’s records. Notice in The Island Moon does not constitute an acceptable notice. b. A quorum of at least 10% of the members was not present. 3. The Bylaws are specific and clearly do not authorize or permit the Board to borrow funds or mortgage POA assets. 4. The fact that “in the past the Board has not put budget expenditures to a vote of the members” (POA-Island Moon/12-312014) does not legally justify or condone such expenditures or insulate the Board from allegations of misconduct for any of those expenditures or for the future expenditure of $2.3 million without member approval. 5. As a result of the foregoing, any legally binding action that the POA takes to construct a Community Center, borrow funds, or mortgage assets based on the March 2014 Annual Meeting or the November 2014 Town Hall Meeting will be ultra vires and not authorized or approved by the members. 6. Any representation by an officer or director to a lender, builder, title company, or others that a resolution has been approved by the members authorizing the POA to construct a $2.3 million Community
Center, borrow funds, and mortgage POA assets will constitute a willful and material misrepresentation of the facts. Nor can an officer or director of the POA legally represent or certify to a lender that the POA’s entity documents permit it to enter into the proposed loan transaction. Any knowledgeable, legitimate lender would not be willing to loan funds to the POA without various certificates signed by the President and Secretary of the POA certifying that the POA’s entity documents permit the loan and mortgage and that a majority of the members have authorized the directors and officers of the POA to enter into the loan in question
I'm responding to the December 18 letter from Stan Hulse which listed the responsibilities of the POA, as well as the article in the December 31 Moon giving questions and answers about the proposed Island Community Center.
7. The refusal of the Board to call a special or annual members’ meeting to discuss whether to build the Community Center and related financial matters, as reported in the (The Island Moon/12-31-2014) despite the widespread controversy which has arisen on whether to build the Community Center, suggests that the Board may have its own agenda and is indifferent to the will of the majority of the members if different from such agenda.
The POA has indeed done a fine job of evaluating the bulkheads and repairing those in need of repair. They do oversee the boat ramps. These ramps are however not well maintained. The drive and parking areas are in poor condition, with potholes. I noted that the container at the Cartagena boat ramp designed for disposal of used fishing line was overflowing today. I see trash, dead fish or fish parts, and used lures littering the boat ramps that I visit on my dog walks, not to mention old dog poop left by less conscientious dog owners. Mr. Hulse says that the POA maintains all the common areas. They do nothing for the cul de sac islands or medians on the smaller streets (such as Mutiny). These areas were beautified by the nonprofit volunteer work led by the Padre Island Beautification group (I'm not sure of the name) that John White spearheaded. They are maintained (or not) by motivated neighbors who put in their sweat and sometimes financial equity. They should be maintained by the POA. I'm happy to hear that the POA now has authority to level fines for noncompliant homeowners. There are still plenty of noncompliant homes out there. It is noted that the amount of trash on empty lots, lots with houses, and in streets appears to be at a record high. The weeds on some homes still appear to be on steroids
8. To satisfy the directors’ legal duty to act in good faith with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the POA and its members, the Board should properly call a special or annual meeting of the members, with the meeting notice listing as an agenda item that the proposed construction and financing of the Community Center and all relevant financial and operating matters will be discussed. The Board should present at such meeting such financial and other information, as the members will need to make an informed decision. 9. If the directors are not willing to undergo members’ scrutiny on such financial matters at a properly called and noticed meeting and to give members the opportunity to vote at such meeting on whether to authorize the POA to construct the Community Center, to borrow funds to do so and to mortgage POA assets, then they should anticipate that members opposed to the Community Center will logically and justifiably conclude that the directors are willfully and intentionally violating the Bylaws and breaching their lawful duty to act in good faith in the best interest of the POA and its members. 10. For the reasons above set forth, demand is hereby made that the question of whether the POA should build the Community Center and related matters be placed on the agenda of a properly notified special or annual meeting of the members so that the members can vote on such matters. Additionally, demand is hereby respectfully made for the latest Audited Financial Statements (not compiled financial statements) as required by Paragraph 2.08 of the Bylaws and a copy of the 2014 Annual Budget approved by the members at the March 2014 Annual Meeting. Please forward to Concerned PIPOA Members, 13710 Primavera Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78418-6039 Respectfully Yet Sincerely Submitted: Carter L. Tate and Others
Community Center seawall, the cracked and crumbling concrete and exposed rebar rusted away. We asked the POA officers to get it fixed, several months ago. The Exec. Coordinator, Maybeth, sent their seawall maintenance contractor to look at it, and then told us it is just "cosmetic", not requiring repair. She said it costs money to move the repair equipment and supplies and asked if any of our neighbors had similar detioration. She told us the POA would not do anything until more owners on our canal needed repairs, to justify the cost of moving the repair equipment and supplies to our canal. So the POA Board won't do its job to fix an obvious serious seawall defect before it becomes a much more serious and threatening problem, because that would cost some money, but wants to build an unnecessary and very costly Rec Center with our money and without our expressed authorization by a members vote? I call upon the POA Board to table all further actions and activity on this Rec Center project until it sends written notice to all POA members explaining the project and the costs in detail, enclosing yes or no ballots for members to sign and return, and scheduling a spcial meeting of the membership to discuss and vote on it. We ask all members who receive this or who otherwise find out about this Rec Center proposal to demand a halt to it pending a full written disclosure about it and a special meeting for the members to hear and be heard. The POA Board is proceeding with building a "Rec Center" with POA funds without first requesting and receiving a vote of the membership approving this very expensive project. A board member told me that the POA had mentioned this proposed project in the newsletter, inviting interested members to attend a Board meeting when it would be discussed. This Board member told me that there was very little response, so the Board took it upon itself to go ahead with it. That is an underhanded and possibly illegal way to do business. A very expensive project of this nature ought to require a special written notice to all members with all pertinent information and scheduling one or more special meetings to discuss it and vote on it. Does the POA have the legal authority to use our money to build a "Rec Center"? For what purpose, what is the claimed need? Does the Board have the authority to do this without an authorizing vote of the membership, whether or not the Board may have disclosed the propasal in a newsletter? Our dues are supposed to pay for seawall maintenance, right? Look at these photos of our
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And unless the POA wants to reimburse our own repair costs and legal fees, get with it and fix our seawall without delay. Bob Nash Island As I have explained to you previously, we will be back in your area doing bulkhead cap repairs around the second quarter of next year. You are on our list to do repairs and rest assured they will be done. Again, as I have explained, when we are in an area, we repair everything which needs it on that canal. We are currently at the very south end Of the Island – most of those folks have not had repairs done previously. Your bulkhead was worked on during the first pass of repairs when they First started doing them about 10 years ago. Maybeth Christensen POA
I agree with Mr. Hulse that the POA does a lot for the community homeowners, and we do have some exciting projects going on, with the guidance of the POA. I do question the advisability of taking on a 2.3 million dollar project without showing clear need or even desire for it by the majority of the 9000 residents for whom it is presumably to be built. This is especially true when one looks at how well the core jobs of the POA are being performed.
I went to the POA website and read the POA charter (last revised Sept 2013). I discovered that the board does indeed have authority to build structures for the benefit of the property owners, has authority to encumber itself with debt without homeowner input, and can indeed
post notices about such plans and meetings in places that may or may not be seen by the property owners, and probably won't be seen by the majority of owners, such as notices in the Moon or a little notice in Mail & More. I understand why the charter gives them so much power. The organization went through a difficult period when it needed to raise the ridiculously low homeowners' fees in order to be able to make the needed bulkhead repairs. What we have now is a changed charter which gives the board free hand to do what it wants with our money, no matter what the people think. I believe that there is a fiduciary responsibility of an elected board to go beyond this minimal consultation and minimal transparency when they consider nonessential investments such as a 2.3 million dollar community center. I think they should make more of an effort to find the priorities of the property owners. A mailing to all owners asking them about their priorities for the POA and their interest in using the proposed community center would go a long way towards determining if the board members truly understand what the people want. I know that the small number of people who attended the March meeting don't necessarily represent the rest. I also know that at the second meeting, it didn't really matter what the people who attended thought was the best idea. The board has full authority to pick the plan it wants. The answers provided by President Jeff Carlson reflect this. I would say that after the core job of maintaining bulkheads and boat ramps, they should maintain ALL the common areas. I wouldn't be opposed to spending a bit extra and having seasonal flower planting and irrigation available when necessary. I would make cleaning up the trash on the streets, lots, and lawns a priority. Property owners should of course pick up their own trash, but the lots and streets could be picked up on a regular basis and make this place much more attractive. I know that it is the city's responsibility to clean city streets, but they aren't doing it, and a good POA would. Maybe we could send them the bill. I agree that we should very aggressively address code violators. Susan Comer
POA RE: Carlson response to questions about Island Community Center I believe that POA Board President’s responses to the questions about the community center raise even more questions about the manner in which the issue has been handled. He states that “the POA Board does not intend to schedule any additional voting on whether to build the Community Center.” To my knowledge, there has never been ANY voting by the general POA membership on the issue. He says that at the annual March meeting “we engaged the members present as to whether there was support for us to build a Community Center.” To my knowledge, there was no ballot handed out to members present, nor was there even a call for a vote by show of hands by members present. Yet, he says: “There was first of all an overwhelming vote of support for a Community Center.” Really? How many voted for and how many voted against? Where is the actual support for such a statement? The second so called “vote” referenced by the Board President is the POA Town Hall Meeting in November where he says: “two design proposals were presented and again, those present were asked for input on whether the Board should move forward with the project, and if so, which design did they think was best.” I attended this meeting, along with about 30 other members, and those present were NEVER asked ‘if the Board should move forward with the project.” Those present were simply given a sticky dot and told to place it on the one design they thought was the better one. There was NO choice of “go ahead with the idea or not.” The
dots were fairly evenly split between the two designs and questions raised at the meeting about costs of operation were not answered, yet the Board President states that “based on the overwhelming support at that meeting” and other input, “the Board believes it is in the best interest of the POA to move forward with the project.” As to the issue of the Board deciding to take on up to 3 million dollars in debt to finance the Community Center, the President’s response is: In the past the Board has not put budget expenditures to a vote of the members…. and does not plan to do so in regards to the Community Center.” I don’t believe that at any time in the recent past the Board has ever taken out millions of dollars in debt to finance anything. It is one thing to not ask membership when expenditures do not exceed income; it is quite another thing to have the POA take on millions of dollars in debt, which the members are ultimately financially liable for, without taking a vote of the membership. This potential debt is especially troubling in light of the current “revised” budget for 2014 which shows to POA income as $1,443,203 but the total expenses as $1,593,731. If this budget is accurate, then the POA expenses in 2014 were $150,528 more than the income…. and this is without having a multimillion dollar loan to pay off. If the POA can’t cover its current expenses, how can it afford to take out a multimillion dollar loan for a Community Center? This doesn’t sound like sound fiscal policy to me. Nita Smith, concerned POA member
Horses Editor: Now that the holidays are behind us and it is time to move on to other things, I have a question: Have you noticed there are a lot more horses patooties than there are horses? My dad used to ask me that a lot. It was usually when we were in the car behind someone who signaled left and turned right, or in front of someone who tailgated him. If we were sitting on a side-street waiting to enter a busy road he'd sometimes yell it at the driver who didn't drive by as we sat waiting, but instead turned without signaling so we could have gone, but now we had to sit and wait AGAIN. (My father was not a patient man. I suppose that came from having encountered so many horses patooties." I may not have met as many as Pop did but I do feel I've met my share. I've tried to figure out what makes them tick, but it's not easy. For example: What is there about some people that makes it so impossible for them to drive in their own lane? I encounter them wherever I go. It's like they're driving wide-load semi's and can't stay inside the lines. (I'll bet their coloring books are a real mess.) And have you seen the cars? So many of them are banged up along the sides it really makes me wonder how anyone ever gets where they're going without a tow-truck following along behind! I won't even count the ones who've already gotten their dents banged out. So far I've escaped the sideswipers, but I wonder how much longer my luck can possibly hold.
Another example that makes me wonder what goes on it some people's heads is the group so well-represented by the woman I followed across the bridge last week. It was obvious this person was either drunk or drugged. Or, gosh, maybe they were having a heart attack and, thoughtfully, trying to get off the bridge before they caused a caused a major pile-up! When we finally did get off the bridge and I was able to pass this poor unfortunate ----- Lo and Behold ---- they seemed in the best of health! Talking and laughing into their telephone! Hey, didn't I read somewhere that was illegal? One of my other favorites is the guy with the radio! You know the one: he spent more money for those speakers than he did for the car and he wants you to know he's here! Or maybe he wants you to know he's a couple of blocks away, because that's how far away you can hear him coming. I had a chance once to pull up at a red light beside one of those guys and SCREAM at the top of my lungs: "Please! Turn that thing down! " Actually, I had to scream it several times because he kept holding his hand up to his ear, smiling broadly, and mouthing "Whaaaaat?" over and over. Then the light turned green and I swear he turned that radio up another notch before he left me in the dust. I guess we all have our own "patootie" stories. Maybe we could all take a moment and revise our News Years Resolutions to add that we will make an effort not to be one of them! Happy 2015! Dee Wells
Send Letters to the editor to Editor@IslandMoon.com
January 8, 2015
History continued from A1
reported on the money pit and political poison pill the ships became, involving loss of public and private money and a complete hijacking of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. A coalition of city officials and the business community arranged a bailout of the Columbus project that included $2.9 million for a dry dock connected to the museum so the damaged Pinta and Santa Maria could attract visitors to help pay for their repair. The Columbus money suck forced the Museum to raise admission fees above the ability of local families to pay. Prior to 1990, the museum had been free to the public. Several rate hikes brought the cost up to $8. As ticket prices went up, ticket sales went down. The Santa Maria and Pinta began to acquire dry rot and termites. Corpus Christi in the state of Texas, which is still not a province of India. To celebrate the 1992 quincentenary of Columbus getting lost looking for India, the Spanish government commissioned replicas of his vessels at a cost of over $6.5 million. The replicas sailed the ocean blue after a successful tour of Europe and attracted many tourists in those of the 1,500 Columbus celebrations that took place on the Atlantic or Gulf coasts. A 10-day stand in Corpus Christi brought in 106,000 people, the largest U.S. crowd. Encouraged, the city formed the Columbus Fleet Association and began a campaign to bring the fleet to Texas permanently. Spain agreed to lend the ships for copy.6 million, and with much fanfare and financial finagling, the city of Corpus Christi won Spain’s approval to become the long-term home of the reconstructed Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria. This replica of the Niña was once moored in Corpus Christi, along with replicas of the Pinta and the Santa Maria. (Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History) It was all downhill from there. In 1994, an ocean barge collided with the Pinta, which smacked into the Santa Maria. Damage was estimated at over copy.5 million. The Texas Observer
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In 1999, the museum closed off access to the Columbus ships and rolled ticket prices back to $5. With the Spanish government threatening repossession, a creditor from the original transaction filed a lien on the ships to belatedly guarantee a million dollar loan that was not looking very safe. In 2001, city government produced a new bailout from the hotel-motel tax, and the museum jacked the admission tickets back up to $8. After a short spike when the exhibition reopened, museum attendance continued to drop. By 2010, admission was up to copy1.50. Last year, there was no appetite for another bailout. The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History had changed its focus to the history of Corpus Christi. In August of 2014, the Pinta and Santa Maria were demolished without ever leaving dry dock. Sale of their ballast funded refurbishment of the Niña. Corpus Christi has as much connection to the Columbus expeditions as the islands in the Caribbean where Columbus landed had to India. After a lot of money was spent, it could be said Corpus Christi had bought as much connection as Columbus had to Spain. So it was that the fake Spaniard who found a fake path to India and whose later years seemed jinxed, brought a project to a city in Texas that slowly bled until it finally expired from the Columbus jinx.
Stuff I Heard on the Island by Dale Rankin The first question that comes to mind is why what is arguably the best piece of property on The Island is home to a sewer plant. I have checked with as many of the folks who were around here in the 1970s and no one so far can remember why the 30 or so acres at the far, western end of Whitecap was chosen for the location of the Whitecap Treatment Plant. It seems there could be more inspiring views than of the sunset over the sewer plant, but that’s what we’ve got. According to the best information I can find the 55.98-acre tract at the end of Whitecap, known as Point Tesoro (Treasure Point) originally included what is now the Bonasse fingertip and the land under the Padre Island Yacht Club.
A little history First a little history. Texas Secretary of State records show that on Thursday, July 21, 1949 the Padre Island Land and Cattle Company filed as a Domestic For-Profit Corporation in the State of Texas. The Land and Cattle Company controlled most of the land just south of what is now Whitecap to the Laguna including Point Tesoro. Eventually the Land and Cattle Company released control of the land as part of a deal to bring a new, improved, bridge across the Laguna Madre to The Island. As part of that deal two locations were designated for parks on The Island; one, near what is now Bob Hall Pier, and two, the land which is now the Whitecap Treatment Plant. Ownership of the land went through several hands over the years; ending up in the hands of the Padre Island Investment Corporation which divided it into two pieces; one for the development on Bonasse, the other donated to the City of Corpus Christi in 1974 who built the wastewater treatment plant. The tract on the west side of the canal, between the water and the plant was later leased to the Padre Island Yacht Club which built the structure that is there today.
System overhaul The Whitecap plant is the smallest of the six plants in the city and is designed to treat 2.5 million gallons of wastewater per day and the capacity was increased to 8 million gallons per day in 1991. It currently treats about 7 million gallons per day. As we have reported here in the past, the plant has been fined several times by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for releasing high amounts of a particular bacteria into the canal system.
What is now in the works is a complete overhauling of the wastewater treatment system in the city and, as things now stand, four large plants will handle the treatment of wastewater and the Whitecap plant will not be one of them. Instead, it will become a pump station which will send Island wastewater into town and the island plant will be no more than a pump station. When/if that happens the size of the current facility will be greatly reduced leaving a large chunk of choice undeveloped land ready for repurposing. How to repurpose it is the question.
The Plan The plan so far put forward by city planners is to sell the land to help the city pay for that very expensive process. Very preliminary estimates are around $100 million, but the city is also negotiating the settlement of a lawsuit with the federal government over the city’s entire storm drain system which will likely be even more expensive. It should be noted that the land does not belong to the City Parks Department but to the Public Works Department. It is a known fact that the City of Corpus Christi does not have the funds to maintain the city parks. This is evidenced by three facts: One, they have said publicly they don’t have the money; two, they recently put a plan to sell 19 city parks on the ballot and it was approved by voters; and three, Island parks are so full of stickers we can’t go there. So what does that mean? It means that unless something changes in the next several years the land where the Whitecap plant is now located will be sold by the city, most likely to a developer who will, well, develop it. With what? Who knows? That’s a story for another day. The point here is that it’s time to have a discussion on whether we want the city to sell the land for development, or whether we want to have the city keep the land and turn it into a park. Understand, that the city, as evidenced by the recent ballot item, will not maintain it. It will have to be done by some Island group, groups, or individuals. My best guess is that it is about five years until we get to the point that the treatment plant turns into a pump station making the land ready for repurposing. That means we have two, maybe three, city elections to make this enough of an issue to prevent the sale and to come up with a plan for the site. If we don’t, as things now stand, it will be sold and developed.
Police Blotter
Sunday, January 4, 1:56am 10200 State Highway 361 Major vehicle crash The Santa Maria, flagship of Columbus' fleet
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
Corpus Christi Police responded to a vehicle crash with a Nueces County Constable Patrol car on the 10200 block of State Highway 361 Sunday morning. Corpus Christi Police learned that a white 2007 Ford Sport Utility Vehicle struck the back of a 2011 Chevy Impala marked patrol car for the Nueces County Constable’s Office on the shoulder of the roadway. The 56-year-old operator of the Sport Utility vehicle was arrested by the Port Aransas Police Department. The 43-year-old Deputy Constable was taken to the hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. The crash was reported by the Corpus Christi Police Department.
New Years Eve By the Numbers The Corpus Christi Police Department worked through the New Years celebrations and have numbers to report to the public of the activity overnight. There were 173 formal criminal complaints reported to the Corpus Christi Police
Department and 30 vehicle crash reports filed by the Corpus Christi Police Officers. There were 910 fireworks complaints to the Corpus Christi Police Department between 6pm December 31, 2014 and 6am January 1, 2015. Corpus Christi Police Officers arrested 62 people overnight. Of those 62 people who spent New Years in jail, 9 were for intoxicated driving. 173 – Offense reports; 30 – vehicle crash reports; 910 – Fireworks calls; 62 – People arrested; 5 – Driving While Intoxicated as a first offense; 2 – Driving While Intoxicated with a B.A.C. over .15; 2 – Driving While Intoxicated with a previous conviction; 2 – Minors In Possession of alcoholic beverages; 0 - fatal crashes; 0 – Intoxicated assaults
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
FLOUR BLUFF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC HEARING Parents, Community Members, and Taxpayers are invited to attend a PUBLIC HEARING on the TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT
Discussion and public input is encouraged regarding the District’s educational performance. Wednesday, January 21, 2014 5:30 p.m. Flour Bluff ISD Central Office Board Room 2505 Waldron Road For more information please call 694-9220
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Traffic Light continued from A1 The Corpus Christi City Council has not spoken on the issue and is not expected to vote. ISAC member Greg Smith on Tuesday questioned figures provided by the developer which said an average of 17,000 vehicles per day travel through the intersection. Smith cited figures from a Texas Department of Transportation study which found that in December, 2012 an average of 23,000 cars per day passed through the intersection and an average of 34,667 vehicles per day in July of that year. Smith said that more information is needed before a light is installed.
Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Free Public Lectures at UT Marine Science Institute
January 17 at POA
The University of Texas Marine Science Institute is hosting Free Public Lectures: Join us for a series of presentations about estuary, coastal, and marine environments - led by the scientists who study them
The City of Corpus Christi Solid Waste Operations and the Clean City Committee advise citizens from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10th and on Saturday, January 17th, there will be an opportunity to recycle Christmas trees at eight convenient locations. The collection sites will be staffed by volunteers who will help unload trees. In return, those dropping off trees will receive a free tree seedlings based on availability. Only clean, non-flocked (fake snow) Christmas trees with no decorations will be accepted.
Are you interested in science and want to learn more about fishes, birds, butterflies, or how to survive a tsunami? If so, our free public lectures at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute’s facilities in Port Aransas and Rockport will satisfy your curiosity. The lectures are free and open to the public. Prepare to be utterly engaged and learn more about the local bay systems and those that are far away.
The following locations will be accepting Christmas trees from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10th:
Public lectures are offered in Port Aransas at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute’s Visitor Center, located at 630 E. Cotter Ave, on Thursday evenings, from January 15th through March 12th. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.
• Wal-Mart – 4109 S. Staples • Wal-Mart – Greenwood & SPID
‘Bay Talks’ are offered in Rockport at the Bay Education Center (121 Seabreeze Drive) on Fridays at noon, from January 9th through March 13th. These 45-minute presentations are sponsored by the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve.
• Wal-Mart – Calallen • Wood River Community Association – 4410 Wood River Drive The following locations will be accepting Christmas trees from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday,
Port Aransas Art Center
January 17th:
361-749-7334 323 N. Alister Port A artcenter@centurytel.net www.portaransasartcenter.org
• Wal-Mart – 6101 Saratoga • Wal-Mart – Flour Bluff Drive • Flour Bluff High School – 2525 Waldron Road (High School Gymnasium parking lot) • Padre Island Property Owners Association – 14015 Fortuna Bay Drive
WEEKLY CLASSES
Michael J. Ellis Seawall in 1980 after Hurricane Allen “If we back cars up at that intersection we will back cars up at every intersection on SPID,” he said. “The study that is being used to justify this light says the delay between the JFK bridge and Whitecap is only six seconds longer than normal during the height of Spring Break and we all know that is not the case.” ISAC chairperson Gabi Hilpold agreed that more information is needed. “This is a good time to ask questions about Island traffic overall,” she said. “If we don’t get all the numbers we need we don’t need to go on with putting a light there.” She asked city staff to prepare numbers to bring before the committee at its next meeting on Tuesday, February 10. The discussion about the light comes at a time when Island traffic is drawing attention from planners. Hilpold said a comprehensive traffic study is needed for the entire Island and that the city is working toward that goal. “We need to decide what we want SPID to look like in the future,” she said. “Is it a highway or is it an Island street?” One of the issues that is driving the discussion is that the number of vehicles arriving on The Island across the Port Aransas ferry is up less than 5% in the past decade while the number of new water meters, a key indicator of growth, in Port Aransas is up by more than 40% during that time. “That means as both ends of The Island grow more and more people are coming through the intersection at SPID and Highway 361,” Smith said. “The ferry system is a finite resource and we have to plan for more cars coming to the Island by SPID.” Park Road 22/SPID Water Exchange Bridge. City staff told the ISAC that plans for the Park Road 22 Water Exchange Bridge are now 90% complete and construction is expected to begin in August, 2015. The design calls for a bridge consisting of three spans which will included a waterway about 40 feet wide that will run under the roadway and connect the current Island canal system with Lake Padre on the east side of the road. It would have 14 feet of clearance from the waterline. It also includes two pedestrian, cart paths; one on each side of the waterway. The project will be paid for with bond money from the city. Michael J. Ellis Seawall. ISAC members also began discussions about ownership of the seawall and who would pay for its replacement in case of a direct hit by a hurricane. The seawall is owned by the owners of the adjacent property and Bob Curry, who owns a seawall condo and is heading an effort to get the city to restrict driving on the beach there, and to help repair damage to the structure. Curry said if the seawall is destroyed property owners cannot afford to rebuild it. The seawall had to be rebuilt after Hurricane Allen in 1980. Those repairs were paid for with insurance money but after the project was completed property owners were not able to renew the policy. Under a current agreement with the state the seawall must remain open to the public but the property owners are under no obligation to rebuild it if it is destroyed again. The concern among ISAC members is that the absence of the seawall would affect FEMA flood maps for the entire Island and put upward pressure on insurance rates across the Island. “Ownership of the seawall is a political question which needs to go to the city council,” Hilpold said. “But it is a discussion we need to begin.” She said she will place the item on the agenda for the next ISAC meeting.
MONDAYS-SOFT PASTELS-NANCY THYRE ~ 9:30 am -12:30 pm-Cost: $15.00 non-members\ $13.50 members Learn this very fun and artistic medium. Nancy has a great lesson plan each week or complete something of your own. Recommend Nu Pastel set. Paper can be purchased in class. Come learn this fun medium. First Class, use our supplies-And also if you did not bring any with you for your winter visit. TUESDAYS~ DROP IN AND DRAW CLASS~PAT DONOHUE ~ 9:30am— 12:30pm –Cost:$15.00 non-members $13.50 Members Come, learn to draw or improve your skills. Join us any Tuesday and have a great time! Supply list is available at front desk. First Tuesday is Portrait Drawing, however you may also work on something else if you wish.
Citizens not participating in this effort may set out trees during their regularly scheduled brush collection days not any sooner. If they want to throw it out sooner they will have to take it to one of the tree recycling events. For set out dates, please refer to the 2014 Solid Waste Services Customer Guide or check online at www.cctexas.com/government/solid-waste-services. Residents can also bring trees to the Collection Center at 7001 Ayers Street for free disposal from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Beginning mid January 2015, residents may visit the Citizens Collection Center to collect freshly ground Christmas tree mulch. Volunteers are needed to help unload trees at all locations. Community service certificates will be provided for completed shifts. You can register online at www.cbvc.org. For more information contact Solid Waste Operations Outreach Coordinator, Celina Ybarbo Pulcher at (361) 826-1655 or at Celina@cctexas.com
THURSDAYS~ STARTING JAN 8th THROUGH FEB. 26th ~SOFT PASTELSDONNA GARVEN ~ 9:30 am -12:30 pmCost: $15.00 non-members $13.50 Members. Get your set of Soft Pastels & you can buy the paper from the instruct tor so you are ready to participate in this fun class! You may also work in Oil Painting if you wish.
Island Trivia
FRIDAYS -BEGINNING / INTERMEDIATE WATERCOLOR -KAY BARNEBEY 10AM-1PM Cost: $25 Come, learn to paint or advance your painting skills with this great instructor Supply List available, A/C also has paints & brushes to get you started in your 1st class if you don’t have any. WORKSHOPS EASY COIL BASKETS JUDITH DESHONG HALL WORKSHOP Dates: January 13 & 14 Time:2-4 pm COST: $50 includes both Pre-pay by January 9 th Create wonderful baskets using the coil method. Various twine & yarns allow for great variety of looks. This method easily converts to non-traditional shapes Session 1 – Basket-how-to: Beginnings and Endings Session 2 – Review of Basics plus Variations and Embellishments minimum 3 students. You will need the Supply List which is available at the Art Center or by email. FIGURE DRAWING WORKSHOP - ELENA RODS -THURSDAY JANUARY 15TH FROM 6-8:30 PM. Cost is $15 in structor fee + $10 model fee. Sign up & pre pay by 1/9 minimum 3 students max. 8. Figure drawing sessions will be guided by Elena Rodz a figurative painter who has studied artistic anatomy & historic drawing & painting techniques. Bring your charcoal, pastels, pencil or paint & enough surfaces for 4 poses. Also FEB. 19th 6-8:30pm pre-pay by 2/13
Gulfstream condominiums are located near the end of Windward Drive along the seawall and are popular with Winter Texans. Gulfwtream was built in 1970 at a cost of just over $3 million and has 132 units. Many of the units are owned by Winter Texans who come back year after year and have a group of friends who they see each winter.
JANE GILLETTE- BIG WASH WATERCOLORS WORKSHOP January 21st 9:30am-4pm w/lunch break & Jan. 22nd 1-5 pm. Cost: $115 includes both days Pre-pay by Jan. 16 Learn the technique of big wash -Watercolors. Jane will demonstrate how she simplifies painting in watercolors, using water and color to do the work. There will be lots of discussion about interpreting the subject, simplifying it and finding your own unique voice. minimum 6 students
What is the average Island Temperature for January? The average temperature for January is 57 degrees. That includes a lot of days in the 70’s punctuated by a few says in the 40’s. 57 seems a bit low when you think of how many sunny comfortable days we have in the month but think of it this way; what do you think is the average January temperature for Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Michigan? 57 doesn’t seem so cold now.
NORMA GAFFORD-WIRE & SEA GLASS JEWELRYSATURDAY January 24th Time: 10-5 Cost:$45 Instruction +$25 Supply Fee- pre-pay by Jan.20 The word jewelry is derived from the Latin word 'jocale' meaning plaything. Come play and learn wire work. We will use copper, brass & a little sterling silver along with local beach glass & beads. 3 student min.
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DEBRA WILLIAMS –ENCAUSTIC PAINTING-WORKSHOP Feb.4th 10-5pm Cost: $130 includes all supplies Pre-pay by 1/30 min. 4 students This Fun Encaustic Workshop is designed to give participants a brief introduction to the encaustic process. You will go home with your original painting. A one-hour demonstration is followed by independent work time, giving participants a chance to experiment with the paint & tools. Also Feb.18th 105pm sign up & Pre-pay by Feb. 6th BRENDA STARESNICK -ART JOURNALING– Feb. 7th Time: 10-2pm(w/break) Cost:$30 + Supplies Pre-pay by 2/1 Workshop is directed toward the "beginning" sketcher who would like to play with pen and ink with watercolor washes in a sketchbook environment.This is perfect while traveling, but great for "everyday" subject matter. We'll focus on tools for sketching and getting over the fear of sketching.Bring your sense of humor! You will need the Supply List which is available at the Art Center or by email. (she will try to do it Plein Air in April).
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January 8, 2015
A7
Island Moon
Backwater Adventures By Joey Farah
On the Rocks
Farah’s Fishing Adventures By Jay Gardner
Bundle up for Catching I pulled the boat up to the Island at dusk against the howling north wind. The bank of clouds we watched roll in over the last few hours of the afternoon swept a cold hard chill over the Laguna Madre’. As I bundled up the decoys and heard my customers chatting on the beach, a chill came over me as I looked off into the darkness to see the boat had drifted free and had floated off into the bay. I dropped the decoys and rushed, bounding over the water. Half running/ half swimming I slowly closed the distance between me and the boat. I looked back at the island with my guests standing on the bank and told myself that it was the last chance before I had to turn back. The final ten yards was a straight out swim in full waders, jacket, and boots. As my outstretched hand grabbed the rail of the boat, I was in water over my head. Not many could have pulled themselves up and into the boat, and when I did I lay there on the deck of the boat and thanked God. I sat there for a while catching my breath and thinking about my children, and how I may have been seeing the same thoughts as my last breath left my body and the cold water sent me into a sleep. I’ve come close to drowning a few times surfing in big waves but now with a life that
Still great trout action with soft plastics along all the deep channels and deepest flats demands I be accountable for others, life is too precious to chance. That evening flashing lights and fire trucks covered the causeway, and the next morning I saw that at the same exact time a man took his last breath just a few hundred yards away from where I swam the night before. Tragedy begins with bad judgment. This unfortunate man was an experienced fishermen who loaded up three adults in a small paddle boat. The wall of dark clouds and wind was not enough to deter them and they fished just a short distance away from the pier. As the waves came over the small boat it sank leaving the passengers in cold, fast running water. The pier was only a cast away but against those conditions it was too far. I see fishermen on the pier, kids, feeling safe, the reality is that this time of year you are only moments away from tragedy. Wear your lifejacket, especially when you are alone. Keep your family and yourself safe, no fish, duck, or anything is worth your life. Bundle up for some great fishing this week! Temperatures have been more like winter now and the tides have finally dropped out. This will
Redfish along the deep areas of Emmortt's Hole on dead shrimp during the "CHILL DOWN" work to the angler’s advantage, concentrating fish in and along the deepest channels and holes. Slow presentation with soft plastics have been producing trout and redfish in all waters deeper than six feet. The Drift fishing has been great with lots of small fish along with easy limits of five trout per angler along the deepest of areas of the King Ranch. Using heavier jig heads is key in keeping the bait on the bottom. As the cold sets in big mature trophy trout will use every advantage they can to survive. They will regulate their body temperatures by moving in and out of the shallow flats gaining every bit of warmth from the sun. We will start our Trophy Wade fishing next week as duck season comes to a close. For anyone looking to fine tune their skills and learn how to actually HUNT BIG TROUT, opposed to just fishing for them, now is the time to call.
Oh geez this weather is lousy. I found myself at the sporting goods store the other day shopping for fleece pants to go on under my jeans when I’m working out in the yard. Unfortunately everything was double XXL, or had legs that came straight from the 70’s bell-bottom collection. I should have picked up some of those neoprene longjohns that I saw on sale a couple months back. Guess I’ll just grin and bear it out there, or start wearing my PJ’s underneath. And yes, I have a pair of SpongeBob PJ’s. Don’t tell anyone please. They were a gift from my mommie.
Anyhoo, the whale didn’t make it (obviously) and the TMMSN folks went down the next couple of days (the tides were really high) to complete a necropsy and get tissue samples in attempt to figure out why it stranded. One thing we all learned from this edition is that marine mammals are similar enough to humans to carry diseases and bacteria that can be transmitted and contracted by humans. I wonder if the CDC included the pygmy sperm whale version of the flu in their vaccine this year? I’m betting they didn’t. Come to find out you should wear some kind of PPE when working with marine mammals.
Our buddy Colin (Towboat Trash) was headed off the beach the other day and came across a pygmy sperm whale around the 32MM that had beached itself, but was still very alive. As there was no phone service in that area, he and a compadre tried repeatedly yet unsuccessfully to return the marine mammal out to deeper water. About the time they would get it turned and headed out, it would immediately push its way back to the beach. It evidently wanted to die.
The take-home point is that yes, in some
Colin caught up with me as he was getting off the sand, and was wondering who he needed to call. The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) number is fairly easy to remember, it’s 1-800-9-MAMMAL. I got a brief description, and called the number to relay the message as Colin finished getting off the beach and home. Heidi answered the phone and took the report, although about halfway through, she told me that the Coast Guard had already spotted the whale and called it in an hour before. Come to find out those guys are looking out for all kinds of things while they’re flying around, Kudos to the local Coasties.
instances we can help stranded marine mammals return to the water if they’ve become disoriented and off-track. However, in many cases, there’s no saving some of these sick animals, and you’re risking infection and injury to yourself by trying to rescue them. Best leave it up to the professionals. In addition, the whale had plenty of spunk left, and although Colin is a young, strapping dude, the whale knocked him around a few times and tail-slapped him down one time so hard that Colin was seeing stars like in the cartoons. These animals are in dire straits, and may not take your rescue efforts as a positive thing. Believe me, they’re strong, even when sick. Besides the traffic light at Aquarius and Park Road 22 discussion at the ISAC meeting the other night, that’s about as exciting as things have been for me lately. I did get a little deer at the ranch the other day though. Check that off the list for the season. After surviving my two 4-day back-to-back weekends for the holidaze, I’m ready to get back to the office and my Monday morning oatmeal routine. Sometimes vacations can be a little too much, and the office is a welcome respite from the vacation. But, not too often, and not for long. We’re staring down the long stretch of the next vacation being 5 months down the road as Memorial Day in May. That feels like a long ways away from these 40 degree days we’ve been having. Stay warm my friends.
The bait fishing is starting to get very good. Live shrimp is scarce but good dead shrimp can be very productive. Do not hook up a whole shrimp, remove the head and tail, and even peal the shell off. When fish are cold a smaller easier bait gets slurped up instead of nibbled. The Packery area will fill up with drum, reds, and sheep head when the tide falls out and it gets cold. Pompano will be coming in towards the surf soon and will be sending anglers out to the beach during these days when the north
The Gem of the Island! Captures the waterviews Relaxing, private!
Bundle up and enjoy winters great fishing. winds flatten out the surf. Peeled shrimp on small hooks, or Fish bites in the first two guts at high tide will give you some of the best tasting fish you can catch. Bundle up and enjoy some of the best fishing of the year, it’s better than living up North!!
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Big boxes every trip during these winter months have put loads of smiles and pounds of fish on the dock.
Tides of the Week
Day
High /Low
Tide Time
Height in Feet
Th F Sa Su M Tu W
8 8 9 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 13 13 14 14
Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High
10:18 AM -0.2 6:24 PM 1.2 10:45 AM -0.1 6:40 PM 1.1 2:06 AM 0.5 4:40 AM 0.6 11:10 AM 0.1 6:57 PM 1.0 2:27 AM 0.5 6:18 AM 0.6 11:35 AM 7:13 PM 1.0 2:52 AM 0.3 8:09 AM 0.6 11:56 AM 7:28 PM 0.9 3:21 AM 0.1 7:38 PM 0.9 3:55 AM -0.1 7:31 PM 0.9
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
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A8
January 8, 2015
Island Moon
SPORTS Sports Talk
“Day of Days”
The 2015 NFL Playoffs... How About Them Cowboys? By Dotson Lewis Special to the Island Moon As the Dallas Cowboys celebrated their 2420 wild-card win Sunday, the Detroit Lions left with questions, and my voicemail rapidly filled and my Email went wild with incoming messages. The media reports stated that with 8:25 left in the game, Cowboys rookie linebacker Anthony Hitchens was initially flagged for pass interference while defending Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew on a third-and-1 pass from the Dallas 46. Referee Pete Morelli announced the penalty, which would have given the Lions a first down, but moments later changed the call to no penalty. The Lions lined up on fourth down but their attempt to draw the Cowboys offside failed and they eventually punted. The Cowboys scored the game-winning points on their next drive.
ankle sprain and did not practice during the week, had a different thought. "I was just trying to play defense and I felt like it was the right call," he said. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was pleased with the decision but seemed to indicate he would be in favor of expanding replay rules to include pass interference. "I've never seen one get that far into the next play and ready to go again and have it reversed, but I think that's a good thing," Jones said. "If we're going to stop action and we're going to have replay and we're going to have interpretation from New York -- which I'm all for -- and we're going to do all that, then we might as well get 'em all right. And, again, I think they made the right call in terms of not calling it. That's why they picked it up. It's not
First Astro to the Hall of Fame By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon It took him years to be the “first.” Twenty years to be exact. He will be the first to wear the star of Houston, Texas Astros on his cap, which will proudly be displayed on his Hall of Fame plaque. Day after day, he did his thing. He hit leadoff homers, doubles up the middle, or took a pitch on the elbow and trotted to first base. Along the way, he began to lead the team out onto the field at the start of each game. We quickly found out that he was a natural born leader. Very rarely was he hurt, or at least he was good at keeping it from us. Little did we know that he played through illnesses, soreness, injuries to his knee in 2000, shoulder and broken fingers? He never made excuses, busted his tail during every at-bat, and man, could he turn on a fastball. He was always there; in the middle of a rally, stretching a single into a double, bunting
athlete. Now people name their kids after him. He was ok with who he was and proud to be a professional baseball player. I remember being late arriving to a game once and while standing outside, in line to get in, I smiled at hearing this loud roar rumble from deep inside the park, B-G-O, B-G-O. Over and over, the crowd chanted B-G-O, as he approached home plate. It was just another “Day of days,” in the life of Craig Biggio. Baseball, in Houston, Texas, as we know it, was about to begin. Craig Alan Biggio, who was born in Smithtown, New York, on December 14, 1965, announced his retirement from Major League Baseball, July 24, 2007. Unlike most professional athletes, he went. After twenty years of taking infield practice, twenty years of getting in and out of that batting cage, he’s had enough. “I’m at peace with it and I’m at peace with how things have gone for me. I’m in a good place,” said Biggio. “It couldn’t get any better than it did on June 28, when I reached my 3,000th hit. It can’t get any better than that, other than winning the World Series. That was the greatest day of my life and my family’s life. That’s what I want the fans to remember.”
Face guarding is legal under NFL rules The facts regarding the above report: 1) The flag was thrown for “face guarding,” 2) Under NFL rules “face guarding” is legal, 3) The referee’s microphone was not working properly when he announced that the call was changed to no penalty. Many of those watching the game on television and listening to it on the radio did not hear the change announcement. I did not hear what Joe Buck (FOX TV commentator) said, but I was informed that his explanation, to say the least was confusing.
Referee Pete Morelli The media report continues: "The back judge threw his flag for defensive pass interference," Morelli said in a pool report. "We got other information from another official from a different angle that thought the contact was minimal and didn't warrant pass interference. He thought it was face guarding."
supposed to be." Dotson’s Note: There is a well-defined process for changing/overturning a call. The Lions-Cowboys playoff game was marked by the crew picking up a flag against the Lions, setting off a huge uproar. Football officials have a set protocol that occurs before changing a call. How do officials approach their partners and get them to change a call that they think is a mistake? If an official thinks another official threw his flag in error, he lets the play continue, and once the ball is dead he approaches the calling official and asks him what he saw. The calling official tells his partners what he has. He’ll then ask his crew-mates what they saw — knowing that if his partners are questioning his call they have a very good reason to do so. Once the calling official has the information from his partners it is up to him to either pick up the flag or let the call stand. An official has to have a great deal of confidence (some call it ego) to make the tough call, but he also has to have enough confidence to set his ego aside and allow a partner to question him and possibly convince him to pick up the flag. This mechanic is also used for when a member of the crew thinks the down is wrong, there is incorrect penalty enforcement, or a rule is being misapplied.
to get on base, and diving to keep a ball in play. For twenty years he showed up for the same team and we never noticed he was there until something good happened.
A grinder He was a grinder, a winner, and an old fashion ballplayer. He always respected the game and his ability to focus on the next play separated him from most. Whether something good or bad happened on the field, he was able to define it as “that’s baseball.” He never charged the mound, never showed up other players or the club, and has never been thrown out of a game. Oh, there was a fire, a fire burning deep down inside him, but he always had it under control. His motto may have been, “Never let them see you sweat,” like the commercial. He never grew his hair long, pierced his ears or tattooed his body. You never read bad things about him in the press. The only thing dirty about Craig Biggio was his uniform.
A father He was a husband, a father, a religious man, rancher, head of the Sunshine Kids, (an organization that takes care of cancer stricken kids) and yes, he played baseball. He could have been your next door neighbor and you would have never known he was a professional
Yes, he will be remembered. He will be remembered as a first round draft choice from Seton Hall University, a seven time All-Star at two different positions, winner of four Gold Gloves, five Silver Slugger Awards, 3,000 plus hits, six postseason appearances, and the most doubles (661) hit by any righthanded batter to every play the game. There is one other record that he accomplished that no one seems to talk about. In 1997, Biggio became the first and only player in baseball history not to hit into a double play, while playing an entire 162-game season. He will also be remembered as a Killer Bee forever in the minds of Houston fans. For eighteen of his twenty years you could not say Biggio without saying Bagwell, Jeff Bagwell that is. These two were the heartbeat of the Houston Astros for as long as most fans can remember. So, goodbye Craig Biggio! You will be remembered forever as one of the best. It will be just another “Day of days,” in the life of Craig Biggio. 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.
Facts regarding the above: Referee Pete Morelli was incorrect, the flag was thrown by back judge, Lee Dyer for a face guarding foul. Head linesman Jerry Bergman was working on the sideline and saw the play from a different angle. When arrived in the area of the flag he asked Dyer if he had pass interference, Dyer said no, he had face guarding. Bergman’s reply to him was “we don’t have face guarding in this league, if you don’t have pass interference, I don’t think we have a foul, I didn’t see enough contact for pass interference.” Morelli also stated in his pool report: “Face guarding is a penalty in college football, but not at the pro level. Back judge Lee Dyer threw the flag on Hitchens from the far side of the field. Head linesman Jerry Bergman offered the different -- and ultimately deciding -- view. Morelli said he should have waited before making the initial announcement. "The information came and then the officials got together a little bit later after it was given to me," Morelli said. "It probably would've been smoother if we got together."
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams (83) takes a Tony Romo touchdown pass past Detroit Lions middle linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) into the endzone
Facts regarding the above: Referee Morelli’s was incorrect in saying that “face guarding is a penalty in college football.” It is not a foul in college football, it is a foul in National Federation of State High School Associations football playing rules. Texas is one of the two states that do not use NFHS football rules. As all of you Moon Monkeys know, we play by college football rules in Texas high schools. After the game, the Lions were upset. They led 20-17 at the time of the penalty and would have at least used more of the clock, if not scored a touchdown or a field goal. "I thought it was a good call at first," Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "I was told he did not make contact with the receiver. I thought it was the right call until he picked up the flag. I thought it was a penalty but that's not my decision." http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0104/nfl_g_ garret-refs01jr_C_600x400.jpgSaid Pettigrew: "I thought it was ridiculous, to be honest. But there's nothing I can do about it ... He ran through me pretty much, trying to get back to the ball. To me, it was obvious. To them they made whatever call and picked up the flag." Hitchens, who was playing despite a high right
Unless the referee is in on the original call, he does not intervene in the conference. The only time the referee intervenes is if his crew-mates cannot agree, and he has to break the tie. What was so strange about the changed call during this game was the changed call happened after referee Pete Morelli announced the foul and enforcement. Why did it take so long for the conference to happen? Why did Morelli announce the foul, then the conference, then the overturn? Why didn’t someone call Morelli on the wireless communications system and tell him, “Hold it! We’re talking it over down here.” The merits of the call can and will be debated, and the way the conference went down was kind of ragged, but the officials did follow the traditional protocol for changing the call. Under NFL policy they did what was right. It will be interesting to see if anyone on the crew that was involved in the call advances to another round of the playoffs. Dotson’s other note: Do you think the Cowboys will make it to the Super Bowl? Your suggestions, comments and/or questions/ concerns regarding “Moon Sports Talk” are appreciated. Call the Benchwarmers 361-5605397 weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 3-6 p.m. or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com
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January 8, 2015
A9
Island Moon
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The PI DOG Christmas Party held 12/20/2014 at the home of Chuck and Beverly Hoffman. We had 16 members and 13 dogs! Saturday, January 24, 2015: 9:00 am Beach Walk. Meet at the Bristol Pavilion at Padre Bali Park. Bring leash, water for your dog & you, poop bags, etc. Also, PI DOG is planning to be in the Barefoot Mardi Gras Parade again this year with the Dog Park Committee. Mark your calendars! The parade is scheduled for Saturday, February 14!
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A10
Island Moon
January 8, 2015