The Island Moon Published by Island Moon Publishing, LLC 15201 S. Padre Island Drive Ste. 250 Corpus Christi, TX. 78418 editor@islandmoon.com
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Island Moon The Island Newspaper
Island Area News ● Events ● Entertainment
August 12, 2011
Phone (361) 949-7700 ● Email editor@islandmoon.com The voice of the Island since 1996
Photo by Jan Rankin
Around The Island By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com
Real estate Roundup
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Things Heating Up As Market Gets Jittery
On the bright side we got lots of national exposure when the Weather Channel turned up for the Big Blow only to be left doing live shots from the Holiday Inn about the Storm That Wasn’t. We were a little disappointed because those weather guys always stand out there in the high winds clutching a telephone pole and getting pelted by rain. There aren’t any telephone poles on Ellis Beach so those guys were going to get blown to kingdom come and that would have been fun to watch. But we are entering the time of the hurricane season when we historically have taken hits so let’s cross our fingers. Blue salty soup The Gulf water is like soup. Warm blue soup with lots of salt. Our water temps have been hovering somewhere between tepid and hot tub around 88 degrees most days - and the best way to cool off is to get in the water and right back out into the wind. In the mornings the water is actaully hotter than the air. Because the two things we got plenty of these days are warm salt water and wind. What we don’t have is rain. But as a cockeyed optimist once said, “It is truely an ill wind that doesn’t blow somebody some good” and our tradeoff is when we don’t have rain we get nice beautiful Gulf water and we have plenty of that. The water off our beaches is as blue
ARRGH! Pirate Scourge in Port Aransas Story on B1
as, well, the water was the last time we a drought a couple years back. Plus, we are having a tourist season for the ages as Hill Country rivers dry up and Texans look for water to recreate and they head for the Gulf. It is a reminder of the wisdom of the old Texas line, “When God made Texas he made enough land for everybody, but only enough water to fight over.” But the rising air over the middle of the continent continues to pull winds in off the Gulf so while the rest of the state and country have record high temps and no water we have plenty of wind and water. This ain’t your grandpa’s drought Before we begin preparing for the apocolypse let’s grab a little historical perspective. In 1947 it stopped raining in Texas and didn’t start Around Island Continued A 6
August 28, Whitecap Beach
Year 15, Issue 394
Latest plans for Schlitterbahn and Island development
Inside the Moon
We played chicken with our first hurricane of the season and like so many before it the King Ranch swallowed it whole. One day we were getting ready to board up and the next we barely even got any rain. We were actually willing to put up with some wind in order to get the rain. The winds in Tropical Storm Don only looked to be in the 70-80 range and that’s hardly a stiff breeze around here. We had cold fronts this winter that blew North winds higher than that and if it meant getting ten inches of rain then bring it on. Instead, Don got a little ways offshore and the eye went one way and the rain went the other but none of them came here.
Next Publication Date: 08/19/2011
Developer: “We Are Looking to Enhance the Island Experience”
By Dale Rankin
Editor’s note: Last issue was the first time we ran this feature and frankly we were a bit surprised at the response. Seems a lot of Islanders are interested in the subject, many of whom are in the real estate business, some of whom would just as soon not have been included in the Real Estate Roundup. But many tips started coming in. Bear in mind that for the most part these are private transactions which cannot be verified through public records, but here goes. The real estate market is starting to churn a bit as the investors try to stay ahead of any announcement on a waterpark or other major development. In general it seems to be a time of quiet acquisition for those with the money to buy and hold. We’re hearing of one individual buying tracts on the east and south sides of Lake Padre. These are both single family lots and multi-family, commercial lots. Another buyer snapped up fifteen units at a condo complex near the Padre Isles Country Club where an adjacent tract is also for sale. Both would be in a good spot if the planned changes come to the golf course as the riverwalk feature would connect them to the remainder of the island canal system and they would be close enough to get splashed by the Schlitterbahn’s Lazy River.
Proposed Roadway elevation
22.17 ft
Water Level
Person Reading Island Moon
10 ft
Proposed Bridge Cross Section
10 ft
Gypsy lullaby More people seem to be looking at houses in the Cruiser Canal area and the areas around the east end of the main canal. This presumably is because those houses will have direct access to Lake Padre and the planned developments around the Country Club if the Cruiser Canal is connected to the bridge that the city is working to get built connecting that new canal and Lake Padre. It would mean boaters could get to open water through the Packery without having to go all the way around to the JFK Causeway and would also be near the planned development along the riverwalk.
While these plans are almost certain to change, these are the current plan for the area in and around Padre Isles Country Club, including a waterpark, riverwalk and bridge to Lake Padre area. By Dale Rankin
tial instead of a waterpark.”
Island developer Paul Schexnailder gave the public their first look at the latest drawings for the proposed Schlitterbahn Beach Country Village on The Island at the monthly Kiwanis Club luncheon last week.
He said the parking facilities will be similar to those at the South Padre park where there is a 15 50-acre parking lot. The park, if the project goes through, would be expected to open by Spring Break of 2013.
It is the first comprehensive public disclosure of plans for the park and would change The Island is fundamenReal Estate Continued on page A 6 tal ways. “We are looking to change the island experience,” Schexnailder said. “We don’t believe in chain restaurants. We are looking to provide a tourist setting with locally operated, shops and restaurants where there is some local flavor.
While details of the plan are expected to change as budgets and economic studies are complete, the planned “Transportainment River” concept for the new park would mark the sixth fifth time Schlitterbahn has been involved in the planning of such a development. The Island “Transportainment River” about a mile in length would be the longest they have built.
Bless the Animals
This will be a low profile park,” he said. “Nothing will be more than about thirty five feet high and the design will take advantage of the topography at the site.”
A planning drawing for Padre Isles Country Club showing the location of new holes in He said the park exwhite and new riverwalk marked in red. pects to attract more than 300,000 people per year, about 3000 per day for 120 days out of the year. He said a traffic study will be done to determine how best to manage the flow of vehicles to and from the park and that design plans call for three separate parking entrances. Currently, about 25,000 vehicles per day travel down SPID on The Island past the site where the park is planned. Out of that number, 60% - 15,000- turn north on S.H. 361. The park is expected to generate an additional 1000 vehicles which will enter the park through three separated entrances. Diggers, car chasers, snarlers, biters, jumpers, growlers, runners, scratchers, barkers, stinkers, whiners, beggers, and carpet soilers take notice. Help is at hand! On August 28, Island Presbyterian Church will Bless the Animals at the 8:00 a.m.beach service service on Whitecap Beach. Everyone is welcome to bring your favorite animal or animals for this special blessing of God’s creatures. Biters and runners should be kept on a leash until after their blessing when hoperully they will see the error of their ways. Pictured are man’s best friends being blessed last year by Rev. Rick Mills.
-13.19 ft
Elevation of Current Roadway
“So traffic at the intersection of Highway 361 and Commodores would either go left to the beach or right to the Village,” Schexnailder said. “We don’t have a “first pitch” time like a sporting event. People will come and go as they want to without everyone having to show up at the same time. We would generate a lot more traffic on Island roads if we developed the area as entirely residen-
They recently expanded their newly opened park in Kansas City and the original park in New Braunfels to include a similar feature. They also design “transportainment Rivers for Atlantis in the Bahamas and for a park in Dubai. The New Braunfels park is located in a residential neighborhood and attracts about 1 million visitors per year.
The “Transportainment” concept is a combination of transportation, sport, and entertainment – which is designed to minimize the amount of time visitors spend standing in line. Instead, while they are waiting to go on a ride they float thru circle the park in tubes riding down falls and through white water. This ride is anything but a Lazy River. “Transportainment” takes you to all areas of the park without having to leave the water. The “Transportainment River” is powered by gravity with 96” diameter Archimedes’ screw pumps lifting 65,000 gallons of water per minute. All of the water used in the park is filtered and recycled,
The water park would be part of a larger development plan for the area that calls for nine of the holes on Padre Isles Country Club to be moved (see diagram) and for a Water Park Continued on page A 6
Island Moon
A2
August 12, 2011
A little South Texas history
Marina Market Days
Mexican Standoff on the Rio Grande and the Beginning of “One Riot One Ranger” Editor’s note: This is the latest in a series of stories based on the book Taming the Nueces Strip by Texas Ranger George Durham who road into the area between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande to confront bandits who had been raiding into downtown Corpus Christi and the King Ranch in the year 1875. In the last installment the Ranger troop , lead by Captain L.H. McNelly, rode into Mexico and ambushed the cattle rustlers at their camp, killing more than fifty before running back to the south bank of the Rio Grande to take cover. Meanwhile, soldiers from the U.S. Army had violated orders to cross the river and help the Rangers. When we last left them the soldiers had raked the charging Mexicans with a Gatling gun, killing more than thirty of them along the shore including some wearing the uniform of the Mexican Army and the Mayor of the nearby Mexican town of Camergo. By Dale Rankin The first thing that happend when the Rangers dug in along the riverbank is that the few bandits on the south side of the river left alive retreated. The second thing that happened is that the Captain commanding the U.S. troops crossed the river with a telegraph from his superiors. It was from Colonel Potter at Fort Brown: Advise Captain McNelly to return at once to this side of the river. Inform him that you are directed not to support him in any way while he remains on the Mexican territory. If McNelly is attacked by Mexican forces on Mexican soil do not render him any assistance. Let me know if McNelly acts on this advice. When McNelly finished reading the telegraph the Captain asked him, “What shall I tell him?”
had come to Mexico with two things in mind; the first was to kill a Frenchman who had betrayed him and there was a good chance that the Frenceman was one of the fifty or so men who now lay dead on the Mexican side. The second thing was to return about 300 head of cattle that had been stolen and recently crossed into Mexico by the men McNelly had attacked. McNelly wasn’t going back without the cattle. Mexican standoff What they had now was a true Mexican standoff - in fact it may be where the term came from. The Rangers weren’t leaving until they got the cattle but they didn’t have enough men to go round them up while fighting Mexicans at the same time. On the other side, the Mexicans had the Rangers pinned down, at least for now, but didn’t have enough men left to drive them back across the river. A few hours passed while McNelly went in search of food for his men which the Army provided. Then a party of three riders appeared out of the prairie with a white flag held high on the end of a carbine and a letter pinned under the hammer. As the truce party approached three Rangers, including Durham but not McNelly, went out to meet them. The leader of the bandits was a man listed in The Book - a list of those wanted in Texas for various crimes - as Doc Headly. He was said to be one of the leaders in the border gang. As he rode up he was drinking from a bottle of mescal. Behind his white beard his face was flush from the mescal. “You’re not McNelly,” he said to the Ranger. “Just give me the letter,” the Ranger said.
“Anything else?”
“This letter,” Doc Headly said. “Is from the chief justice of the sovereign Mexican state of Tamaulipas addressed to the commander of the Texas and United States forces that have made an armed invastion of Mexico. And you sir, are not the commander.”
“No. Plain no,” McNelly said.
“Just give me the letter.”
“The colonel won’t like that,” the Captain said. “The answser is still no,” was McNelly’s final reply. He
“How many men you got?” Doc wanted to know.
“Tell him no,” was McNelly’s answer.
Marina Market Days at The Lawerence street T-Head was a huge success with over a hundred vendors turning out. Marina Market days is held on the first weekend of Every Month. Photo by Jan Rankin
History Continued on page A 4
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A3
Island Moon
On the Rocks By Jay Gardener In my last article I made a crack about seeing everyone at Schlitterbahn; what I forgot to clarify was WHICH Schlitterbahn. Two weeks ago I had some work down on South Padre and was actually referring to that one. So, for those of you ribbing me about what seemed like a potential poke at no one in particular, it was not intended to be. The laugh (Ha!) was actually to the thought of me in the middle of the wave pool at the Schlitterbahn (in South Padre) with 15,000 screaming kids. Those of you that know me realize that I tend to avoid those situations. I like kids and all, just not ALL of them at once, LOL. Wanna Wanna Break So since I had some work down south we took the opportunity to head down a little early and meet up with our SPI friends, Rob and Kym. They rent a beach house for a month every summer and always have an open door for friends and family. And since we have been threatening to go down for years now, it seemed like the best time to accept their gracious hospitality for a few days. We had a great weekend, with a fish fry and meeting some locals and an awesome band at the Wanna Wanna Beach Club Bar. Seems several employees from the Cameron County Drainage District play in a band during the weekends. They were actually really good! The name of the band escapes me, but I hear they play most weekends especially during the summer. Check it out if you’re around down on that stretch of sand.
Laura shows off
Dirty Water
So you also know that I couldn’t go down there and not do some rock hopping at the Brazos Santiago Pass. Rob and I headed out Sunday morning at a decent time and were met with dirty water in the channel and on the surf side of the north jetty at South Padre. We saw a decent mangrove snapper on a stringer on the way out, but that was about it. Despite hours of casting and watching, no tarpon were jumping or even seen. I caught a nice trout right off the bat and that was it. Our buddy JT who runs one of the local golf courses walked out and met us on his birthday. We had a nice visit, and planned some fun activities for when it cools down a little more.
your lure. The girls had some nice walks up the beach and found lots of shells and some coral and believe it or not, sunglasses. Kym found 4 pairs in one day! Crazy! We also saw several sharks free-jumping off the third bar, which was pretty cool. Besides the hot work on the sand, it was a really good time and thanks again to Rob and Kym for the awesome hospitality. I even got a shot of the lighthouse on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. Missing Skimmers Dale wrote a little bit about the skimmers being absent on the causeway. That is indeed due to several factors, one being the free-range feral cats in the area. Those poor kittens have a rough life out there and need to be rounded up anyway. The second issue is the type of habitat out there. Get on GoogleEarth and use the Time Function. The what you say? Time Function? For those of you that don’t know, I”ll tell you about something really, really cool. Up on the toolbar is the symbol for a watch. Focus on your favorite area (like the causeway) and hit that button. A dropdown slide bar will pop up with various increments. Slide that arrow back and forth across the bar. You can get pics back to the 50’s when they did some massive dredging in our Lagoon. Back when you can see that Sulphur Road (now Zig-Zag Island) was connected to the causeway! The causeway was also a lot wider as it had recently been dredged. The causeway has undergone a lot of erosion since then. The sediments have changed. Skimmers like large grained sand and especially shell hash (broken up bits of shells). They also like areas that don’t flood during nesting season. Basically, the area that they used to nest in is too low and doesn’t contain the correct sediments. The skimmers use their beaks to basically make an indention in the sand/shells for a nest, and since the area has been driven over and over through the years, the sediher catch ments have been compacted, and its too hard for them to make a nest. So some organization (or private folks) who would like to see skimmers back on the causeway should take a look at improving the habitat for nesting. Bring in some shell hash and build a section up. And it may take them a couple of years to use it, although I’m thinking if you build it, they will come (oh, and you gotta round up the cats and fence it off and quit driving through there, likely a sticky situation with fishermen that use that area.) But good luck; I’m cheering for you and would like to see it happen. Check with my buddy David Newstead over at the CBBEP to sort out the permitting and legalities.
Combing for Sunglasses
Tropical Storm Don
Rob and I spent several evenings after work running up the beach and chasing trout with topwaters at various pinches and guts. We each had a few decent trout, but the water was cold from some kind of upwelling, and it was dirty, which made it hard for the fish to see
I had a note to talk about Tropical Storm Don here in my article. Well, there ya go, I just did. Some folks had a lot worse things to say after it was all said and done, but you know what momma sez. We went rock-hopping on north packery the day before
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Snook? In addition, Laura caught her first Texas Snook, despite the claim by one of her employers that snook don’t exist in Texas. Its all in jest and good fun, and congrats on her first snook, a nice Fat Snook. Those guys are all over the place out there; remember they have to be 24” to keep. Although one particular person will cringe when he reads this in print, I have been putting “fish stickers” out there on some of the rails that are measuring tapes provided by the CBBEP. Please direct people to use them when you see them with a fish that looks short. And if you think of a good place for me to put those stickers or want me to stop, email me at jaygardner@scientist.com Tag You’re It! We made it out last Sunday on the Shortbus with Bizzy and Jamie in the afternoon. We eased out into the blue water that was a mere 9 miles out. We found a floating tumble weed that had a couple decent mahi on it. We then eased out another couple miles and found a weak rip, and proceeded to tag a few more little chicken dolphin. As you know Bizzy and Laura are the fish tagging team extraordinaire. They are extremely efficient and we got a handful more mahi tagged this week for Capt Peter Young’s study for the HRI Fisheries and Ocean Health Lab headed up by Dr. Greg Stunz. This is being written before the TIFT results come in and hope Capt Peter did well down south. Well, its that time of year and you can find me rock hopping several days of the week after work. I’m headed out there now (well, after I give blood. I would like to give a
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A4
History Continued from A2 “Enough to go on through to Mexico City if we want to,” the Ranger said. “Just give me the letter.” “You have invaded Mexico and killed our beloved alcalde (mayor) of Camargo and eighty other citizens.” “I’ll make it eighty-three right d--- quick unless I get that letter,” the Ranger, whose name was Robinson, said.
August 12, 2011
“They’ve taken a beating as it is. They’ve lost their big jefe and lots of men. They’ll be forted for us at Camargo.”
to the river where McNelly got on the ferry and ordered the first ten Rangers in line to board with him. Durham did a quick count, he was number eight.
The next day a messenger arrived from Diego Garcia, the man who had takent the place of the slain mayor, saying the new mayor had so much business he wouldn’t be able to deliver the cattle until tomorrow.
They crossed the river and were met by four Mexican customs men. “It’s 3 o’clock we’re here for the cattle,” McNelly said. The customs man in charge explained that they had forgotten it was Sunday and their religion forbade them from doing any business on Sunday, they would bring the cattle tomorrow. Suddenly the Mexicans started to draw their pistols.
“Tell him,” McNelly said, “we want the cattle today, like we agree to yesterday. They were to be delivered this morning. Tell him the commanding officer of the U.S. Army demands them now and might take military action if that truce agreement is violated.”
Doc started to speak but Robinson drew his pistol and pointed it at him, the other two Rangers followed suit and one of them asked Robinson., “If I get the first slug in that windbag can I have those pretty pistols of his - and that handtooled belt?”
A short while later a note arrived from Garcia via a very polite messenger who reported that the cattle would be delivered to the river at 3:00 p.m. today. Across the river the Rangers could see a pole corral full of cattle with plenty of armed horsemen riding herd. The Rangers checked their weapons and wondered what McNelly would do next. He did what he nearly always did, the unexpected.
“Well,” the other Ranger spoke up, “if I get the second slug in can I have that saddle.” The answer to both questions from Robinson was yes. Doc was sober enough to know the real thing when he saw it Durham wrote later. He handed over the carbine with the letter, butt first. About that time McNelly showed up and read the letter out loud. In short, it said for all Americans to go leave Mexico and then they would talk about the cattle. “We’ll negotiate when we get that herd of stolen cattle,” McNelly said. “We’ll stay in Mexico until we do.” After some discussion Doc said,”Let’s suspend fighing for tonight and tomorrow, that being Sunday. Then we deliver the cattle.” “We suspend nothing,” McNelly said. “The only way to stop fighing is for you to keep your men out of our shooting range. That’s final.”
Bad day to be a Mexican customs man He ordered his Rangers onto their horses and led them to Rio Grande City where he took them to a little cafe and ordered two rounds of coffee and pan dulce. The natives began to gather around to gawk at the Rangers who came to visit town on such an early Sunday morning. The Rangers rode back out
Doc was starting to sober up. “Those cattle are penned at Camargo,” he said. “Your write out an order for them. Write it and sign it. We’ll see then.” That was done and when both McNelly and Doc signed, the talk was over. The United States soldiers can go to ...
“Captain McNelly was on top of that customs man like a cat,” Durham wrote years later. “His pistol crashing the side of his head and his knee in the man’s belly as he went down.” The Rangers drew and jumped up behind their captain as they had been trained. The Mexicans were not trained and were bunched up so that even if they got their weapons clear of their holsters they couldn’t get a clear shot at the Rangers. When the first Mexican cleared leather Ranger Bob Pitts shot him and he “dropped like a polled shoat” in Durham’s words. The rest dropped their pistols and reached. The dead man had fallen on the leader that McNelly had clubbed and McNelly grabbed him by the collar and hauled him to his feet. He said to the interpreter, “Tell this man we’re going to cross him over to the Texas bank, and for him to order his hands to deliver the cattle over in an hour or he dies. Tell him also if any rescue is tried he dies. Tell him.” It was just not his day.
With a shaking hand the boatman pulled the Rangers and the hapless customs man back across to the Texas side. Once again the Captain had used surprise to get his point across. In less than one hour the cattle started wading into the muddy Rio Grande heading to Texas. One riot one Ranger
Years later, after a career in law enforcement George Durham wrote: “I had learned another mighty good lesson that stood me in good stead in later years as a peace officer, and that was to get control of the leader when you had a mob or crowd to handle. Never kill the leader if you can help it. Take control of him, and do it in a way so he’ll know he’s been brought under control. That way one or two peace officers can handle a whole mob without too much killing.”
It was the origin of the mantra of the Texas Rangers that lives through until today. Like the Ranger said years later when he got off the train alone to squash a riot in an oilfield town. “Only one Ranger!? the town’s Mayor croaked. “Well, you only got one riot,” the Ranger said. One Riot One Ranger.
Back on the riverbank the Army had brought over a pot of slum gullion stew and bread. While they were eating an Army Captain rode up with another telegram: Secretary of War Belknap orders you to demand McNelly return at once to Texas. Do not support him in any manner. Colonel Potter.
Next time: The stolen cattle are returned to Nueces County and the King Ranch. McNelly becomes a folk hero, and King Fisher is next.
McNelly wrote back: I shall remain in Mexico with my rangers and cross back at my discretion. Give my compliments to the Secretary of War and tell him and his United States soldiers to go to hell. And then he signed it. About that time a group of wagons appeared under a white flag. It was the Mexicans come to bury their dead. McNelly ordered his men to start back across the river. It had been twenty four hours since they saddled up for their raid and in that time they had covered more than fifty miles, wiped out an outpost rull of rustlers, and earned themselves ten cents wages for the day. When they got across they found their horses fed and rested. They mounted up and rode out. “We want to be across from Camargo at daybreak,” the Captain said, “to take delivery on the cattle. I don’t trust those rascals and they might change their minds.” “They ain’t going to deliver the cattle across,” Ranger Sergeant Hall said.
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Padre Island’s Finest Painting Company Offers State of The Art Interior and Exterior Painting Custom Tile, Granite Countertops, Expert Carpentry, Cabinet Refinishing & Painting Power Washing, Roofs included, decks refinishing & restaining. ● Free Estimates ● Island References ● No deposit required ● Payment upon completion ● Full Insurance ● All work unconditionally guaranteed.
361-461-5144
Island Resident-Brooks J. Sheehan
August 12, 2011
Letters to the Editor The Veggie Lady Dale, The veggie lady will be on the Island the next several Sundays 11am-@4pm on SPID near the Keller Williams office. The lady that used to sell veggies at Whitecap and SPID was run off by the cops. Billy
Scuttlebutts Dear Island Moon, We live on the Island and were so glad when Scuttlebutt’s restaurant opened. The menu has such a variety of different foods and the staff is always very friendly but…The music drives us crazy! We cannot sit and have a conversation over the blaring musicians playing. It is just plain annoying. It seems like the worse the musician the louder they play. I have complained numerous times to the management but it doesn’t seem to matter they just won’t turn it down to a tolerable level. Maybe I’m just getting old but the music has driven my husband and I out of Scuttlebutt’s. Dose anybody else out there feel the same way or am I just an old fuddy-duddy? Thanks for listening. Sarah Schneider
Smokers, Pick up your BUTTS! Editor, Has anyone noticed the vast amount of cigarette butts on the ground at the left hand turn lane at the corner of S.P.I.D. turning onto Commodores? I guess everyone whom stops at that light flicks a cigarette butt out of their car window. Smokers this is just awful. Have a little respect for our Island and keep your cigarette butts to yourself.
Who Are the Moon Monkeys
The news is all good. As of a few months ago it is legal to drive a golf cart on any Island street with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. That includes everything except SPID and SH 361 where driving a golf cart would be a death wish anyway. Whitecap is 35. Until a short while ago the limit on Whitecap from SPID to the beach was 40 but it was dropped to 35 specificly so carts could go there. You are allowed to cross SPID at the designated crossings, most people use the street but sidewalks are okay too. There is also a nice, new wide sidewalk on Whitecap between SPID and the beach which can be used instead of the road. If the proposed bridge is built under SPID that will also have a cart path. About the only thing you can’t do is get from one end of The Island to the other since a big chunk of Aquarius has yet t be finished. That means you can’t get from Whitecap over to Commodores and that part of town, or vise versa because it would require you to drive on SPID (unless you find a way to cut through the golf course). Many people cut through on the dirt part of Aquarius between Dasmarinas and Commodores but there are some potholes out there that are whoppers. That section of street is scheduled to be paved by the middle of next year so if that happens then the problem is solved.
Keep an eye on the Moon for the periodic rallys of the Island golf cart club hosted by Bobo. Those guys know their way around The Island and Bobo keeps his Fun Meter on stun.
Summertime and the Fishin’s Easy!
Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor Dale Rankin About the Padre Island Moon The Island Moon is published every other Wednesday, Dale Rankin, Editor. 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. Mailed subscriptions are available in the US and are $100 per year. Next day home delivered subscriptions are $100 per year on Padre Island and in Flour Bluff. News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads, payments, etc. may be left in the Moon tray at Isle Mail & More, 14493 S P I D. For more information call 361-949-7700 or contact the Moon at 15201 S Padre Island Dr., Suite 250, Corpus Christi, TX 78418 or by e-mail to editor@islandmoon.com.
Bagdad was not only back in business but now the only port in the South from which ships could exit and make it through the blockade. New Orelans was in Union hands and other Southern ports were blocked. But ships leaving Bagdad flew flew the Mexican flag. Within a year Bagdad had 40,00 residents.
Hey Bonny,
Dale
Office Security/Spillage Control Riley P. Dog
Boomtown!
Bonny Claeys-Grigsby
Hope that helps.
Mike Ellis, Founder Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Dana Pope Office Lisa Towns Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers (In no particular order) Devorah Fox Sunny Reed Mary Craft Chris Adler Maybeth Christiansen Dr. Tom Dorrell Kendal Ezell Jay Gardner Diane Halfety Todd Hunter Mike (Murph) Murphy Ronnie Narmour Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Andre LaVoy Patrick Lewis Miles Merwin
What Ever Happened to the Village of Bagdad and What is There Today?
Hello to all you Islanders!
You can also get to Island Italian by crossing at Whitecap and slipping in the backway, and to Johnny D’s by going around to Encantada.
Harry Clark
Trivia Question of the Fortnight
Me and the hubby bought our winter home on the Island this past October and recall hearing rumors about passing a law allowing golf carts on the side streets. Has this been passed? Can anyone give me the particulars of the law? Our property is on the ‘other’ side of SPID - I believe one of the concerns was getting a cart crossing on SPID to allow those residents access to the beach. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!
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Island Moon
Redfish Hatchery on Waldron Road is the place to be on Saturday, August 20 if you are between the ages of five and twelve and love to fish. Island Foundation is holding its Kid Fish fundraiser from seven until eleven a.m. with lunch from 11 - 12.. Bring your own lucky pole or use ours. Registration is limited to the first 100 fisherkids and the $25 ticket includes pole and lunch. Registration will be available at Seashore Learning Center, Seashore Middle Academy, Seashore Early Childhood Academy, Marker 37, and other local bait stands. Call the Island Foundation office for more information - 949-0076
By 1864 Brownsville was in Union hands and remained so until the war’s end. Cotton was routed to Rio Grande City then to Bagdad where twentyfive hundred bales of cotton crossed the border every two weeks.
A statue of Columbus greats tourists at today at Editor’s note: Last time we told you about the village of Bagdad, Mexico, located on the south bank of the Rio Grande River south of Brownsville. It was started as a base for raiding and smuggling by the pirate Jean LaFitte who was working with Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to use Bagdad as a port to smuggle arms into Mexico. but during the early part of the U.S. Civil War found itself the only way for the Confederate States to export cotton and cattle to pay for much needed supplies for the Southern cause. The town also found itself in the middle of a war for the control of Mexico between the forces of Santa Anna and Hapsburg Prince Maximilian who brought French and Austrian troops to Mexico at the behest of the big Mexican land owners to stave off land reform. The sleepy seaside town of Bagdad found itself at the center of four armies and two nations. By Dale Rankin Bagdad, Mexico 1863 Hotels and billiard salons sprang up overnight. The beach was piled with cotton and camels returned from Baghdad loaded with 1000 pounds of salt from El Sal Viejo west of the Laguna after dropping off cotton. Beef prices went from $2 to $11 per head in Mexico that year and the beef, like the cotton was shipped from the wharfs in Bagdad. The population jumped to over 10,000.
This spelled real trouble for the commerce of Bagdad.
District 4 council person Chris Adler is one of the roasters and CCISD Supt. Scott Elliff will keep the evening moving along as the MC.
Birding on the Boardwalk – Guided birding tour for anyone, novice to expert, with local guide Nan Dietert. Every Wednesday at 9 am at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center at end of Ross Ave. FREE! Beach Walk – Join guide Shirley Fischer on Port A’s beaches to hunt for shells and other treasures! Meet Fri, Aug. 26, at 9 am under purple pennant near Horace Caldwell Pier at end of Beach St. FREE! Yoga on The Beach – Nancy Myers will conduct a session Sat, Aug. 13, starting at 8 am, next to Horace Caldwell Pier at end of Beach St. This event is held the 2nd Saturday of each month. FREE!
Just Breathe Fishing Tournament
An English officer passes through In April of 1864 Lieut. Col. Arhtur Freemantle of the English Coldstream Guards passed through Bagdad on his way to witness the Battle of Gettysburg with the Confederate commanders. His account is vivid.
Tourists on Bagdad Beach 1st April. —Anchored at 8. 30 p. m. , three miles from the mouth of the Rio Grande, or Rio Bravo del Norte, which is, I believe, its more correct name, in the midst of about seventy merchant vessels. 2d April. —The Texan and I left the Immortality, in her cutter, at 10 a. m. , and crossed the bar in fine style. The cutter was steered by Mr. Johnston, the master, and having a fair wind, we passed in like a flash of lightning, and landed at the miserable village of Bagdad, on the Mexican bank of the Rio Grande.
Mark your calendars for September 14 at the Ortiz Center. Mayor Adame has agreed to be the roastee for Timon’s Ministries fundraiser. Happy Hour from 6-7 pm with a silent auction.
Free Fun Stuff to do in Port A
During a hurricane twenty-six transports carrying seven thousand Union troops came in between Padre Island and Brownsville and sank and the men were forced to swim ashore. In that same year the cotton at the Port of Brownsville was set ablaze by Union troops and the flames spread to Fort Brown setting off 8,000 pounds of explosives creating a blast so strong it sent heavy wooden beams sailing through the air engulfing the entire downtown of Brownsville. Thousands of residents fled across the river to Bagdad swelling its population even more. Brownsville burned for four days.
But then trouble arrived in the form of a Union Man of war named Portsmouth with twenty two guns. Portsmouth was no ordinary warship. She had two Paixhands guns, invented in 1823, they were the first shell guns, which came to be called Paixhans guns (or “canons-obusiers” in the French Navy). Paixhans guns became the first naval guns to combine explosive shell, rather than cannon balls, and a flat trajectory, thereby triggering the demise of wooden ships, and the iron hull revolution in boat building. The poet Victor Hugo wrote:”Terre! l’obus est Dieu, Paixhans est son prophète.”(“Earth! the shell is God, Paixhans is his Prophet.”)
Mayor Adame Celebrity Roastee For Timon’s Fundraiser
Visit the website: timonsministries.org to order tickets. Single tickets are $100, tables of 8 priced accordingly and include dinner and table wine. PayPal can be accessed on the website, or call the office at 937 6196.
Cotton prices went from 16 cents per pound to twenty-five cents, then to 90 cents. Cotton wagons pulled by twenty-mule teams loaded each loaded with 12 bales of five hundred Playa Bagdad. pounds made their way south across the King Ranch where Richard King taxed the confederacy one bale of every ten. War was bad for Brownsville but good for the King Ranch and for Bagdad.
Eateries on Bagdad Beach A lighter (barge) owned by Kenedy and Company was heading out of Boca del Rio for the English ship Propeller at anchor offshore when USS Portsmouth hove into view. The lighter turned back but the Portsmouth captured a sloop full of tobacco, and a blockade runner full of cotton before they could turn back and Bagdad was officially under quarantine. Confusion reigned. English ships were waiting offshore to transport cotton to English mills and offload gun powder and supplies for the Southern Army but the Union ships blocked their way. After two weeks of uncertainty Texas Ranger Captain Rip Ford called for a meeting with the English consul and the Captain of the USS Portsmouth. The Captain said he had no orders to intercept Mexican ships only those under the Confederate flag. Ford then called a junta with Kenedy, his partner, Judge Trevino of Matamoros, the English consul, and others. Ford made arrangments with Kenedy and Company steamboats to transport their cotton across the Rio Grande to Bagdad where it would be loaded onto ships bearing the Mexican flag to then be taken out to be loaded on the Enlish ships.
The bar was luckily in capital order—3½ feet of water, and smooth. It is often impassable for ten or twelve days together: the depth of water varying from 2 to 5 feet. It is very dangerous, from the heavy surf and under-current; sharks also abound. Boats are frequently capsized in crossing it, and the Orlando, lost a man on it about a month ago. Seventy vessels are constantly at anchor outside the bar; their cotton cargoes being brought to them, with very great delays, by two small steamers from Bagdad. These steamers draw only 3 feet of water, and realize an enormous profit. Bagdad consists of a few miserable wooden shanties, which have sprang into existence since the war began. For an immense distance endless bales of cotton are to be seen. Then a riot by a black regiment in Brownsville due to a disparity in pay with white troops spilled over into Bagdad. The town was pillaged but kept on. In that same year Confederate soldiers wet off from Bagdad carrying the gold of Maximilian headed into Texas. They left Bagdad with six troopers leading six pack mules and a wagon following the edge of the up the Laguna Madre. They were killed along the way and the gold was never found. Cotton prices in 1865 went to $1.35. In in 1865 the last battle of the Civil War, Palmetto Hill, was fought nine miles south of Point Isabel, 40 day after the South surrendered. The second storm of 1865 made landfall in Texas near Brownsville the day it formed. After the war
Just Breathe will host the Kacey James Hendrix Memorial Kingfish Tournament on Saturday, August 20, 2011 from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Person’s interested in participating in the tournament should call 361-960-4033 or visit www.kaceyjameshendrix.com. “We are pleased, proud, and honored to be part of such a wonderful tournament.” Said Fallon McDonald, Owner of Just Breathe. “It is important to us to keep Kacey’s legacy, spirit and memory alive. He is gone but never forgotten.” Kacey James Hendrix, age 12, passed away after a tragic drowning accident on May 15, 2011 just north of Packery Channel in Corpus Christi, Texas. He left behind family and friends that have been deeply touched by his presence in their life. He was a kind, sweet, caring, outgoing boy whose vibrant smile became infectious to everyone he encountered. He is survived by his loving parents, older brother, grandparents, as well many cousins, aunts, uncles, and extended family. The Kacey James Hendrix Memorial Kingfish Tournament will be a near shore fishing tournament and is open to the public for entry. All proceeds will be donated in Kacey’s memory to a charity of his family’s choice. The charity will be disclosed at a later date.
Lighthouse at Bagdad Beach
Hurricanes in 1886 and again in 1889 destroyed what was left of Bagdad and closed its port to merchant ships. Due to the nature of the sandbar there now only small boats venture near its shores. In 1953 the river had changed its course and flowed over the site of Clarksville. To reach Playa Bagdad today take Highway 2 southeast out of Brownsville and when it deadends you are in Bagdad. Most of the revellers who go there probably have little idea of the history that passed under their feet during the days of sea going bucaneers and the War Between the States.
Island Moon
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Around The Island Continued from A1 again until 1957. About the only thing in Texas that didn’t go dry was the San Marcos River which is fed by the very bottom of the Edwards Aquifer which is a giant underground resevoir that stretches from Uvalde to Austin. No European Texan has ever seen it go dry but the Apaches oral history says it did once. Inflows to Travis Lake near Austin last week reached levels lower than those in the 1950s but that is more a factor of more people drinking from it than there were in the 50s. But make no mistake, Texas is dry folks. 99.5 percent of the state is in some form of drought and this one has surpassed the 1950s version in two of three key areas. And in the 50s there weren’t 25 million people living in Texas. That drought was the beginning of our state changing from a rural, agriculture-based economy into an urban one as many farmers and ranchers headed for town and never came back. Texas historian Prescott Webb wrote in 1953, “Droughts are unlike other natural disasters. They creep in slowly, with no need for dramatic services of the Red Cross, martial law or the state police. And, in the end, everybody loses.” Good news on Packery dredging A tip of the hat to the Island Strategic Action Committee and the POA. Their prodding about the need and cost of dredging Packery Channel hit paydirt to the tune of $1.4 million in savings to the Island Tax Increment Financing Zone. The dredging will be done this year to remove sand left behind by Hurricane Ike and the cost estimate by city staffers was $3.1 million. But after a suggestion by ISAC that the city call and find out who did the recent canal dredging for the POA the cost dropped to $1.7 million. One of the biggest contributions of the ISAC since its inception has been to push for a more aggressive bidding process to cut costs on Island projects and this is the latest example.
Real Estate Continued from A1 Packery progress
Work is nearing completion on the amenities along the north side of Packery Channel. The cabanas are up and the parking lots getting finishing touches. The walkways extend from the boat ramps near the 361 Bridge all the way to the base of the north Packery Jetty. The city has also begun efforts to find private partners to develop the strip of land between the new sidewalk and Zahn Road. They are offering the land for development and are also planning other public facilities in part of the area. Tortuga Dunes Just across Zahn Road there is no real progress to report at the Torguga Dunes development. After a flurry of work a couple of years ago things have come to a halt. Reports are that the developers ran into a problem finding flood insurance. The area is in a COBA zone so federally backed flood insurance is not possible. The developers had originally hoped to get private underwriters but so far that has not happened. More Packery
That’s all for now. Say hello if you see us Around The Island.
Water Park Continued from A1 bridge under SPID that would connect the resort, park, and HarborWalk to Lake Padre (Padre Harbor) and allow boat access to the Gulf through Packery Channel. The bridge design would also contain walkways wide enough for pedestrians and for golf carts – recently approved on The Island for streets with a speed limit under 35 mph – to go from the residential areas west of SPID to the beach without having to cross traffic on SPID.
At the other end of Packery work continues on the second of two new boat ramps on the channel near the JFK Causeway. The first ramp is already complete and once the second one is done crews will begin to build a bulkhead along the southern end of the parking lot to keep out high tides. When the project is finished the parking lot will be raised nearly two feet and more than one hundred parking spaces for vehicles and boat trailers will be in place. Beach Club We hear the latest round of sales of condos over at Beach Club Condominiums near the beach at Whitecap may be coming to an end. The developer who bought the property some time back has been selling them off and the last corner unit with an ocean view recently sold. To many more sales by the developer could cause him to lose control of the condo board...and nobody wants that.
A vote on funding the bridge project is expected to go before the city council in the next few weeks. Urban engineering has already begun preliminary design on the bridge. Voters citywide approved $1.4 million for the bridge construction and sources at city hall said an additional $2 million could come from money left over from the 2004 bonds due to other projects coming in under budget. The remaining money could come from the 2008 bond package. The bridge would be expected to be in place by mid-2013. Leading from the waterpark to the bridge and beyond to Lake Padre would be the 3,000 foot riverwalk with retail, lodging, and residential space along its banks. The plan also calls for some of the riverwalk frontage to be offered to the city for development but so far there have been no official talks with the city. He said a conference center is also part of the long-term plan. “The physical characteristics of the island that allows the creation of this riverwalk that doesn’t exist anywhere on the Texas Coast.” It is a chance to do something no one else has done. You will be able to get in your boat at your house, go through a golf course at trolling speed, go to a restaurant and back home. All on the water.” He said that while no agreement has been signed for the purchase of the country club and agreement in principle has been reached. He estimates permitting will take from 6 - 9 months.
The graphic below shows the damage done by hurricanes along the Texas coast.
Creating Dreams for Island Homeowners • • • • •
The latest word is that the completion of Aquarius street will be done by the middle of next year and some residents there are worried about speeding traffic. A meeting at the Country Club last weekend produced a plan work through the ISAC to present a request to the city for either/or stop signs and/or speed humps. Some residents along the street also want the speed limit dropped from 35 mph to 30.
Those who live on Aquarius will be contacted for their input.
Its always a good day in Port A
since 1987
Aquarius speeding
Stop signs or a speed limit change wouldn’t cost residents, but under city policy speed humps must be approved by 60% of the residents along the road who must also pay for them at a cost of $1500 each – each speed hump not each resident.
August 12, 2011
The Storm that Wasn’t Don promised rain but didn’t deliver. The storm produced minimal rainfall, peaking at 0.96in (24mm) near Harlingen. Rains were confined to extreme southern Texas near the coast, and resulted in slippery roads but not much more. Cotton farmers benefited from what rains did fall as they harvested their crop and winds during the storm’s passage were minimal, gusts reached 32 mph (52 km/h) in Alice. Don moved ashore with a storm surge of about 0.9 ft (0.27 m). The remnants of the storm continued westward into Arizona, where they enhanced the produced rain in the southern portion of the state.
New Homes Remodels Additions Repairs No job too big or too small
Call 774-7043 for estimate www.billgoinhomes.com
WHITECAP LIQUOR Liquor
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14414 Whitecap Blvd. Corpus Christi, TX On North Padre Island..... near the Beach
361 949-9289 whitecapliquor@yahoo.com http://www.whitecap.vpweb.com
August 12, 2011
Island Moon
News From Your
Jumping or diving from the bridge, as well as, from decks can be dangerous. The tide does affect the water level. So, please be careful when jumping from a deck. It is illegal to jump off the bridges. I heard a presentation last week on the exercise stations at Billish Park. You may have noticed that there is caution tape wrapped around some of them because they are rusted and not usable. The cost to replace the stations is about $4300. Of course, the City Parks Department does not have the money. The question is, does anybody use the exercise stations? If you do, give me a call - 949-7026. There is a plan to improve one of the baseball fields at Billish. Because it has to be ADA accessible, there needs to be some cement installed. Mrs. Billish is working on trying to get some of the work, or cement donated. Since the POA has been installing more aerators, we get
Dr. Tom Beware the Barb
By Maybeth Christensen Have you noticed the “No jumping or diving from bridge” signs on the bridges on Whitecap and Gypsy? It seems some of our teenagers found the temptation to jump just too great. We had a complaint from a property owner by the bridge because, of course, once you are in the canal, you need to get out and they were using the owners’ docks.
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calls from folks wanting to know what is happening. We now have 6 installed and will be installing two more. Most of the neighbors are noticing an improvement in water quality which is exactly why we are putting them in. If you see some black hoses running down the side of a bulkhead, look for the bubbles out in the center of the canal. The aerator is doing its job by pumping in oxygen.
This last week has been setting a record pace for beach injuries. My little slimy friends with the barbed tail have been leading the pack as assailants. Usually there are a couple of weeks each summer that the incidence of stingray injuries really rise and this last week has been one of those weeks. Last Saturday we had ten in the clinic and a couple we were not allowed to treat. Some have been smart enough to start their treatment with hot antiseptic soaks before ever arriving. This is made possible by our local folks staffing our condos and the park service that have been educated in how to handle these injuries and it is very helpful to the victims. We still like to make sure there is no retained barb on XRay and start patients on antibiotics like doxycycline to protect against bad bacteria like staph and vibrio vulnificus. I have had very few if any complications when these recommendations are followed over the years. Most flesh eating bacteria infections from stingrays and the
We’ve added some more palm trees out on Sea Pines. That street is looking much better with the addition of the palms and rock. They are being watered regularly and are doing quite well.
like are due to not seeking treatment and then becoming infected. Sun block is absolutely necessary when administered doxycycline unless you want your skin to catch on fire. We can not use it in kids less than 8 years old due to affects it can have on the teeth. If children less than 8 are affected we have to with hold doxy and then there is no oral cure for vibrio only IV meds such as Fortaz that have to be administered in the hospital.
Sting rays are not the only suspects on the beach. Skim boards have caused multiple injuries including a very severe fracture dislocation of the ankle that required emergency surgery at Memorial. In my experience skim board injuries are always severe with multiple fractures leading the list of injuries we see from riding the skim boards.
Surfboards come in second with lacerations from the fins being the most common, though we recently had a tough lady fracture her tibia and ankle while riding. I have even seen the point of a short board impale some on in the quad in recent years. Boogie boards mostly cause trouble when used as skim boards …imagine that?
Fish hooks are always common and though usually minor I have had pluggers come in with a treble all the way thru the nasal septum. These guys usually finish the bite before they come in so several hours after the incident is their typical arrival time.
The book swap area at the office keeps growing. You do not have to bring in books in order to take some with you. Stop by and browse our shelves. We have a couple of volunteers who have organized the books alphabetically by author and come in every week to restock the shelves. We also have a section of “how to” books and a section of music tapes.
Football is full bore and I have already seen a couple blown knees. I hope that everyone is careful with hydration with these days with afternoon practice the highest risk time of the day. Later Doc Tom
Remember, we are available if you need something notarized. We have 2 notaries and one of us is usually available. We are happy to provide this service to our Island residents.
New Palms have been planted on Sea Pines. See Maybeth’s story above. Photo by Miles Merwin
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We’re your full service outdoor solution! Give us a call today. Tim Arlitt - Decks & Docks Specialist 361.229.2530 Sami Wilson - Landscape Designer 361.949.2691
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Island Moon
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August 12, 2011
Under The Padre Palms Terms and Limits ( Political Reality 101) By Arlan Andrews, Sr. Last week’s hubbub in Washington, gress. The days of a brilliant or dedicated Congressman D.C., brought the usual cries for term or Senator spending hours by candlelight polishing a limits, as if somehow we could solve statesmanlike piece of legislation are long gone. the nation’s problems by that one stroke. I think not. Arlan’s Third Law of Politics: Read on. No Staffer is Elected Late last millennium, while working in the Department Few Congressional staffers ever could be elected by the of Commerce’s Technology Administration and then in folks back in the home state or district– these people are the White House Science Office, I often wondered why typically in their mid-20s, often from an Ivy League unithe nation had so many laws and regulations that seemed versity, and consider themselves among the elite of the to work at cross purposes. Laws meant to protect Amernation. In terms of education and per capita wealth, they ican manufacturers had the opposite effect, driving U.S. probably are. In terms of experience in real-life working factories overseas and costing us jobs here. For examconditions, -having or keeping a job, paying bills, raisple, Democrat-sponsored regulations supposedly intending families, worrying about health and family members ed to make luxury yachts more costly for rich people -they are definitely not anywhere close to mainstream simply provided incentives for those Americans to buy America. their yachts in Asia, thereby crippling the boat-building workers of the Northeast, who were not rich to start with The average staffer works on Capitol Hill for only two -- and who got a lot poorer by losing their livelihood. years, the amount of time I spent in the Executive Branch. Similarly, Republican-sponsored trade-protectionist Such Hill stays are typically “résumé stops,” useful for rules drove out laptop manufacturers, and today all of the real career to follow, whether it be in law, political them are made somewhere other than here. science, academia or lobbying. The prototypical staff As a Fellow, I was privileged to take a two-week intro- ers are fresh out of a university, bearing with themselves ductory course, the same as freshmen Congresscritters the latest political theories of their favorite professor or get. In the course of two years in our Nation’s Capital, mentor back in school. And they will quite often favor I saw a lot of laws made, so compiled the following em- the liberal-elitist-multiculturalist political tinge of New pirical information, which I modestly call “Arlan’s Laws England and the Ivy League. Not always, but mostly. of Politics.” Sadly, much of it still applies, even after 20 years.
You Wondered Why?
Arlan’s First Law of Politics: All Legislation is Special Interest Legislation
Thus we have economic legislation affecting working men and women being written by people who have little in the way of real world wage-earning experience.
Sometimes erroneously summarized in the phrase, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease,” the First Law actually means that there is always a hidden agenda other than the publicly-stated intentions. In Washington, D.C., armies of highly-paid lobbyists labor ceaselessly to promote the interests of their paying clients, and/or special interest groups from teachers’ unions to environmentalists. (Google for yourself.)
Similarly, laws regulating science and technology are cranked out by people who have no concept of their impact, and whose employers in Congress merely respond to media reports or lobbyists for various environmentalist groups. (In my presence, a senior staffer once expressed her delight at having “a real scientist who can tell us how to pronounce the names of the fertilizers and pesticides that we are regulating.”)
Arlan’s Second Law of Politics: All Legislation is Written by Staffers
Do a little research and find your own examples: write to any member of Congress and ask for a list of their staffers and their biographies. If they bother to respond at all, you will be surprised at the answers. (However, this is one change that I have seen this year in our District. My old observation does not apply here anymore, thankfully.)
Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives (not leaving out the Executive Branch and the Supreme Court) have taken on too many responsibilities; the U. S. Government has simply bitten off more than its elected officials can chew, or ought to be chewing. Now You Know (Witness our outrageous national debt and its downgrading by S&P.) At least half of what the Federal Gov- Given the true nature of the national law-making proernment tries to do today would have been declared un- cess, is it any wonder that so many Congresspeople are constitutional by the Supreme Court of a hundred years wildly out of touch with the true needs and desires of ago. So, many hundreds of staffers do the actual work mainstream America? of researching issues, drafting proposals and writing the complicated language of all bills that are passed in Con- The truth is always enlightening.
Tom and Janice Farmer with their dog Sarah with Jack and McKenna watch the goings on the seawall during Tropical Storm Don photo by Jan Rankin
A driftwood scuplture was erected on the beach after TS Don. Photo by Joletta
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On Padre Island Since 1994. Locally Owned by Island Resident
Bill Schroeder 15481 SPID Just past Whitecap on Right
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Island Moon
August 12, 2011
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@#$%STRESS*&^% Part 2 Danniece Bobeché, MSN, WHNP Women’s Healthcare Nurse Practitioner www.danniece.com Last time we left you in suspense reminiscent of a Schlitterbahn saga. Yes, stress kills! Now it’s time to STOP THE MADNESS and enlighten you with ways to find your own personalized ZEN. Identify your stress triggers; what pushes your button? Jacob Garcia and his dad were fishing PINS in the 30s when they hooked this nice plus 4ft shark. As it was coming in a big Bull cleaned it for him. He caught the Shark on a Breakaway 10ft 6in rod with a Daiwa SHA30 reel. Courtesy of breakawayusa.com
LCpl Sullivan at the dock to weigh in his fish 27 lb 7 oz
Lauren Lee Hollon caught this colorful redfish with Captain Chuck Matthews
Reboot
Lee Little caught these fish in the canals on The Island. Reds and Black drum have been schooling up during the heat of the day. These were caught on an Alpha a Lure and Schooling fish. Courtesy of Nick Meyer at breakawayusa.com
Flour Bluff I.S.D. Back to School Hornet Swarm
Football Scrimmages » Hornets Vs. Los Fresnos » Varsity 10am » JV & F 9am
» Fun for the whole family
» » » »
Face painting Petting Zoo Dunking Booth Pictures with Buzzy
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Food Drinks T-shirts sales Membership info
Information Booths » » » » » »
If divorce is not an option for that toxic relationship, just make sure Bill Pay is set on auto for the life insurance premium; that should put your mind at ease. And, just when it feels like you are a rubber band being stretched every which way but loose...
Volleyball Tournament » F/JV 9am - 4pm
Entertainment » » » » » » »
Jazzy Bees Band Choir Color Guard Cheerleaders Twirlers NJROTC
Take a walk on the Michael J. Ellis seawall and beach. Find one spot for the keys and stick to it already. Think POSITIVE. Just Say NO (Thank you, Nancy Reagan). Keep away from social media for a day: yes, Umail, MyFace, and SpaceBook will still be there when you log back in. Turn off the TV, allow voice mail to do its thing. Eat more fresh fruits and veggies, drink more water. Do 10 Kegel reps while standing in line at Stripes, Squeeze and Relax. Expect nothing and never be disappointed. Avoid draining relationships. Refuse to participate. Hire a dog whisperer. Stop being a worry wart, it’s a waste of energy and half the stuff we dwell on never even happens. Try a little mental floss (Jimmy Buffett style). Detox with Cam Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) includes non-pharmaceutical therapies that may be used in addition to or instead of traditional, conventional medicine as we know it. These alternatives have existed and been utilized in Eastern Medicine (Asian countries) for hundreds of years for stress relief. The popularity of CAM has grown in the United States even being recognized and paid for by some insurance companies. There are many options to choose from, find one or several that sound appealing to you. More information can be accessed @ http://nccam.nih.gov. Therapeutic massage comes to mind as an all time stress buster in this category. Just in case, like me, you are not fortunate enough to have a masseuse on retainer, there are many ways to combat the effects of stress. Restorative yoga, my fav, think play “dead dog” for 30-45 minutes. This special yoga technique and positioning can totally restore your ability to face the world with a fresh approach after just one session; regular practice... ah! Meditation is the fine art of tuning everything out and is easy to learn. A great resource for this mellow technique can be found @ www.mayoclinic.com/health/ meditation. Deep breathing exercises, Progressive muscle relaxation, and Guided imagery are all wonderful paths to euphoria. Find more information regarding these stress management relaxation techniques on the resources link @ www.danniece.com.
Dogs and laughter
Aromatherapy, Hydrotherapy and Pet Therapy are also helpful options for stress management; think candles, bubble bath/beach/pool and petting the dog, not necessarily at the same time. Touch therapy or physical contact has been shown to decrease cortisol (stress hormone) levels up to 53%, according to recent studies. Based upon The Longevity Project, a research study by Dr. Howard Friedman, sexual intimacy in emotionally healthy relationships can reduce stress and lengthen our lifespan significantly. Laughter is a phenomenal stress reducer, so rediscover that sense of humor. Biofeedback, facilitated by a professional, is also a great method for stress management if self-guided modalities fail. Or simply try Music therapy, it’s FREE, no Rx needed and the University of Maryland discovered 30 minutes of listening to classical music has the same calming effect on the brain as a 10mg Valium. So, crank it up and tune out the stress! Tweaking Your Hormones
Since research has proven that our hormones can be severely depleted by stress, you might consider the benefits of replacement to improve your quality of life and sense of wellbeing. Cortisol, pregnenolone, DHEA, estrogen, testosterone and progesterone can all be altered by stress. There are safe options for treatment available but please DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. It is important to have your hormone levels scientifically evaluated to determine if an imbalance exists in order to determine which replacements would be beneficial for you. No two individuals are the same, it is important to find your balance; it is not one size fits all. Doses vary and should be carefully monitored by a healthcare provider specifically trained in this very specialized area of healthcare. Ohhmmm
OK, now that we have identified numerous tools to enhance those feel good endorphins, let’s get started... find a comfortable spot to sit or recline, close your eyes, take in a full, deep breath, filling your lungs to capacity, as you exhale slowly and completely, relaxing all of your muscles, imagine a warm breeze on your face as you sit on a beautiful, tropical island... OH yeah, we’re there, CHILLAX!
School Nurses School Counselors School Librarians Transportation Child Nutrition District Offices
Various Demonstrations » » » »
Tennis Courts Varsity Gym Wranosky Gym Swimming Pool
Stress-free beach photos by Miles Merwin
Island Moon
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August 12, 2011
Kendall’s Korner By Mary Craft
By Kendall Ezra Well August is here which means school registration, two-a-days, school shopping, finishing that last minute summer homework your teachers assigned, and regrettably later on in the month, starting school. August could most definitely be defined as school readiness month because practically the entire 31 days families are rushing around to make sure that their students are ready for the new school year. Although most people dread going back
to school, you have to remember that going back to school doesn’t just mean school work. Going back to school means getting to see your friends every day, it means getting back into the clubs and organizations that you haven’t met with all summer, it also means for the spirited students sports seasons! One of my favorite parts of the school year is football season. On Fridays you are sure to see team spirit in the halls of Flour Bluff and on Friday nights you can bet that there will be a stadium full of people all wearing maroon and cheering on the Hornets, on the home side at least. But right before the football game the volleyball fans gather in the varsity gym to cheer for the teams as they bump, set, and spike their way to victory right before our football team crushes another school. Needless to say the Hornets love their sports, but we couldn’t have the sports if we didn’t start the school year. So while you are preparing for school and finishing your dreaded summer homework, just remember all the fun things that take place at school and get ready for an amazing school year.
Did ya’hear? Business Briefs...
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The Coast Club in Port A was voted one of the best ten clubs in Texas. It is a clean, contemporary non-smoking facility featuring washers, darts and five flat screen TVs. They have live music on weekends and open weekdays at 3pm and weekends at noon. They are located next to Ace Hardware. Gold Falcon Jewelry and Gifts has a special heart for your sweetheart starting at just $5. They have a wide selection of diamond, gold and sterling silver necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. There is also a full line of Guy Harvey jewelry as well as art work. Shop for your next gift to someone or yourself right here on the Island. They also repair jewelry and watches and buy gold and diamonds. They are located between Prosperity Bank and Peerless Cleaners.
Good-n-Crisp serves chicken, wings and tenders all fresh never frozen. Their homemade menu items include onion rings, fried pickles, corn nuggets and peach cobbler.
P.S. If you have any questions or comments you can email me at kendalskorner@yahoo.com.
Business Briefs
Brenda the Veggie Lady is on the Island between the lights every Sunday 11am until about 4pm.
Padre Pizzeria has coupons in this issue for $10.99 one topping large pizza and $21.99 Jumbo Feast which includes a one topping large pizza, eight pepperoni rolls and a large house salad. Look on Page A-13 for yours. For dessert try their Brownie a la mode made with Fredericksburg fudge.
Dodge City Steaks bring their premium steaks in from Omaha. They are vacuum packed and stamped with a USDA label. You can find the truck around the Island on weekends.
Eagle Lock & Key has a complete line of door locks and deadbolts that they professionally install. How a lock is installed is the deciding factor in the success or failure of a break-in. They also have a wide selection of safes that they also can install. You can reach them at 949-9233 and they have 24 hour emergency service. Offroad 4x4 service is also available. They are located in the Loma Alta Plaza on the Island. Hours are weekdays 9am-5:30pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm.
Cole’s Cabinets can help with your next remodel project. John Cole will build custom cabinetry to fit your needs. Call John at 949-0406 and see how he can transform your kitchen.
Los Cabos Restaurant serves upscale Mexican food at reasonable prices. There is a 15% discount for seniors and military and kids eat free. They are located at the corner of SPID and Flour Bluff Drive in the old Cancun location.
The finish out is being done on the space next to Ace Hardware (formerly Anglers Marine.) A Mexican restaurant has leased the space. No word yet on an opening date. We’ll keep you posted. Photo by Jan Rankin
Construction on the new Walmart Super Center is being completed at a rapid pace. The road work on Flour bluff drive will also be completed simultaneously. Photo by Jan Rankin
Hurricane Alley
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Hurricane Alley Waterpark. Mayor Joe Adame along with the developers took shovel in hand as they ushered in construction on the new park slated to open in the spring of 2012. The flag hanging from the crane represents the height of the tallest slide that will be at the park. Photo by Jan Rankin
V-Fit Construction Nears Completion Construction on the new strip center adjacent to The Pelican is finally nearing completion. V-Fit Training center has delayed its opening by several months due to delays. The New gym and training center hopes to be open by September 1st. Photo by Jan Rankin
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Island Moon
August 12, 2011
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Underworld Grand Opening
Stuff I heard on the Island By Dale Rankin ts an interesting time to be on our Island. The air is pregnant with change and action and the anticipation of new things to come. In no particular order here’s a few. Naked men are back The first sign of change was the return of the Naked Men to Kleberg Beach. I haven’t personally been accosted by one yet but then I haven’t really tried either. I have to admit I’ve been a bit tough on the tribe of Naked Men of Kleberg over the years. But in fairness I believe it was Mark Twain who said, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society,” and I have to say I think he’s right on that.
Some good news...some not so good news First the good news: We’re getting a Mexican food restaurant. More than five years after the last one closed its doors construction is already underway for a new one
I mean when’s the last time a naked man ran for President, or County Commissioner? The closest thing I can think of is Leslie the homeless guy who ran for Mayor of Austin wearing nothing but a pair of purple leopard-skin tights, a green G-string, and a smile. He got 25,000 votes and coined the phrase “Keep Austin Weird.” Lord knows Leslie did his part to further the cause of the semiclothed. But really about the only thing a naked man can run for in these days of moral rectitude is the Border and he better be careful when he gets there because, and this is second hand information but I’ve heard that, generally speaking narcotrafficers and their henchmen take a dim view of the border crossing naked man. But just be aware that if you go to Bob Hall Pier and take a right onto the eight miles of Kleberg Beach chances are you are going to see a naked man with a lobster tan and his squishy parts aflashin’. A new Island feature Another new addition to The Island is also making some progress. By the time you read this the plan for the new Texas Coastal Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on The Island will be public. Guy Davis is ramrodding an effort to bring the new rehab center for injured animals to the area over near the current county maintenance building on SPID. The Nueces County Park Board has expressed an interest in helping the facility get going and a willingness to donate land. Davis and friends are scheduled as of this writing to present their plan to county leaders this week and it looks like things are moving forward. I haven’t seen the full plan but I believe it is to include tanks for sea life and pens for birds, as well as an educational component to link with local schools. It would be a great addition to The Island and here’s wishing them luck. Big doin’s I was sitting in a meeting the other day listing to a discussion of ongoing Island projects and it struck me that if everything that is on the books right now comes to fruition 2013 is going to be a big year on The Island. By that time the completion of Aquarius street should be done, and construction would be underway on three
Woody Lawson and the Ones made the parking lot their stage as they played for the grand Opening of “Underworld” a new boutique in Port Aransas. Underworld carries unique gifts for Bachelor and Bachelorette parties as well as costumes for pets and their humans. Go by and say hello. Photo by Miles Merwin
Island projects: a Schlitterbahn waterpark, an Island riverwalk, and a bridge under SPID leading to Lake Padre. That’s a lot of sand flying all at the same time. Of course a lot can happen between now and then and any or all of those could disappear, but think of the change that will come to us if they do all go forward.
next door to the Ace Hardware. And it’s a mungera too (Don’t bother looking that word up, it’s Tex-Mex for really big). The not so good news: Progress on fixing up the wooden boat I bought is horroroso, or to be more specific - nonexistent. Once we got that thing in there we figured out that the temperature inside a metal storage unit during the heat of summer is enough to melt butter off a penguin’s backside. As of now the boat is more of a weight loss plan than a boat project. On the upside I have heard from several builders of wooden boats around here and once we can get in there to work I think it will be fun to see what we come up with.
Scoopy’s Veranda Sun - Sat 11am - 10pm
In the meantime remember, what happens on The Island leaves on Sunday.
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Island Moon
A 12
August 12, 2011
Tropical Storm Don Tropical Storm Don also brought thongs of media people from The Weather Channel to C.N.N. along with of course all of the local media outlets camped out on the beach near the Holiday Inn. Locals gathered on The Seawall nearby to watch the circus. One local restaurant took the opportunity to take the night off. Photos by Jan Rankin
“Strengthening Communities One Block at a Time” 15th ANNUAL
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August 12, 2011
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Island Moon
Island Police Blotter A Recent Roundup of People Doing Things They Shouldn’t Commodores Dr. & SPID August 8 3:53 p.m. Terroristic Threat
homeowner, 43, holding down 30 year-old man whom he found inside the residence. Homeowner told Officers when he returned home he observed a male running through his backyard and fleeing in a silver Sports Utility Vehicle. He reported to Officers another male walked out of his home through the back door carrying a 50” flat screen television. The victim grabbed the suspect and held him down until officers arrived. Man was arrested and booked at the CDC. He was charged with Burglary of a Residence. The television valued at $1,500 was recovered and returned to the victim.
15200 block Windward Dr. August 4 11 p.m. Sexual assault 15300 block Leeward Dr. August 1 9 a.m. Theft 15000 block Leeward Dr. August 1 11 p.m. Theft of vehicle parts 15300 block Key Largo July 27 1:58 p.m. Fraud 16100 block Cutty Sark July 25 7:43 p.m. Burglary of habitation 15500 Cutty Sark July 25 11:39 a.m. Theft
7:50 p.m. Escape From Custody
13900 block Windjammer July 25 1:00 a.m. Unauthorized use of vehicle 15600 block Palmira July 25 9 p.m. Theft $1,500 9:58 pm 14600 Zahn Road Traffic Accident/Pedestrian Witnesses called 911 stating that a white van had struck a pedestrian on Zahn Road, leading to the beach. Officers arrived to find a 20 year old male victim, with injuries to his head and shoulder area. The witnesses at the scene state that the victim was walking in the middle of the road and was not seen by the driver of the van. The victim was transported to the Spohn Memorial to be treated for his injuries. The driver of the van, a 30yr old male, was not found to be intoxicated and was released.
Officers received information which confirmed the two escaped Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center offenders were staying at a local hotel. The two juveniles had escaped on July 29, 2011 from the Boot Camp area of N.C.J.J.C. Officers located the 15 and 16 year old males along with two other males in a marijuana smoke filled room at the Best Value Inn. The two escapees were taken into police custody along with a 16 year old. All three were transported and booked at the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center. The two escapees were charged with Escape from Custody. The third detainee was charged with a Directive to Apprehend for Probation Violation. 14 year old was released to his parents. 6:44 p.m. August 2 3800 block Caravelle Pkwy U.U.M.V. False Report to a Police Officer Wanted Subject
3:34 p.m. July 26 1810 Daly Dr Burglary of a Residence Officers clearing up from a disturbance call responded to a burglary progress in which the homeowner had one suspect in custody. The Officers arrived to find the
Officers contacted 31 year old man who reported his green 2000 Jeep Cherokee had been stolen from his home at approximately 5:00 pm. He told Officers he believes a male he offered a ride home may be involved. Later that evening, Officers again contacted him and he disclosed the Jeep had been borrowed by a friend. During their investigation the 26 year old friend arrived and told Officers he traded the use of the Jeep for three “crack rocks” and a prostitute. Both men were arrested and booked at the CDC. One charged with False Report to a Police Officer. The other was charged with two outstanding Nueces County for Dangerous Drugs and a Motion to Revoke Probation for Possession of a Controlled Substance. No Bond was set on both warrants. 7:29pm August 8 5127 Weber (Subway) Aggravated Robbery Units responded to the Subway for an Aggravated Robbery. Witnesses state that the suspect, walked ino the store and ordered a meal. When he got up to the register to pay he instead asked the clerk for all the money. When the clerk asked what he had said, the suspect pulled out a handgun and demanded the money in the register. The clerk did as he asked. The suspect grabbed the money from the register and fled on foot towards the Four Winds Apartment complex on foot. Officers arrived and searched the area but did not find the suspect. The suspect was described as a male, in his early 20’s, approximately 5’8” and 160 lbs. He was wearing a black tshirt, red basketball shorts, a baseball cap and sunglasses at the time of the robbery. He spoke English but had a very thick accent.
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A packed house turned out at The Padre Isles Coutry Club to listen to U.S. Congressman Blake Farenthold (R). His message: push for a balanced budget amendment. Photo by Miles Merwin
Port Aransas Lighthouse The Lydia Ann Lighthouse has been showing seafarers the way since before the civil war, it is privately owned and readily visible from the water.
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Island Moon
August 12, 2011
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Moon Visits The White Palace
On July 28, Sue and Ken Parsons took the Moon to the White Palace in Yalta on the Crimean penninsula. This palace was the site of the February 1945 Yalta Confrence of the big three world leaders (Churchill, FDR, and Stalin) where they discussed the borders of a Post WW II Europe. Since Yalta is on the same latitude as Minneapolis, MN, the outdoor photo of the big three has them wearing their woolie top coats. If you look closely at the picture, you will note that FDR is holding a cigarette, Churchill, a cigar and that the short stature of Stalin had him sitting on several pillows to raise his eyes to the level of the other two world leaders.
Carol Elliott and Ronnie Narmour stand in front of the Georgia State Capital building in Islander Victor Stansberry Sr. took the Moon to NYC to visit the Lady of Our Land. Thanks Vic! Atlanta
Luckenbach Former Islanders Tom and Cyndee Jones and part time Moon Monkey Patrick Lewis take the Island Moon along with them to the historic Luckenbach Post Office.
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(Group photo, top right) This group of teachers from Tuscany heights elementary school in San Antonio blows off some steam before the new school year starts. Photo by Jan Rankin (Bottom right) These Local teens ham it up atop a lifeguard stand on Mike Ellis beach. Photo by Mary Craft.
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Island Moon
August 12, 2011
Fourth Green Turtle Nest Found At National Seashore By Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery National Park Service Padre Island National Seashore e-mail: Donna_Shaver@nps.gov Four green sea turtle nests have been found on the Texas coast so far this year, all at Padre Island National Seashore. They were located on July 11, July 23, August 2, and August 5. Green turtles are federally and state listed as threatened in Texas. The eggs from all four nests were collected and transported to the National Seashore’s incubation facility for protected care. They will hatch and the hatchlings will be ready for release in August and September. Green turtle nests have been located on the Texas coast as late as mid-September, so hopefully more green turtle nests will be found this year. Green turtles typically nest at night. Some of the nests
were found by our morning beach patrols. Others were reported by visitors who were on the beach at night or early in the morning and spotted the nesting turtles or their tracks before our patrollers arrived. Thank you to the people that provided the reports of the track sites and photographs of the nesting turtles. Nests were found at about half of the green turtle track sites found this year. At the other half the turtles emerged but failed to nest due to disturbance or something else that they did not like at the sites. This is in contrast to the situation for Kemp’s Ridleys, where a nest was discovered at nearly every track location found. More sea turtle nests have been found at Padre Island National Seashore than at any other beach in Texas, and the National Seashore is the only location in Texas where nests from all five sea turtle species that occur in the Gulf of Mexico have been recorded. All green turtle nests documented in Texas have been at the Nation-
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A ‘Made in America’ Religion The Mormon faith born and bred here and then taken abroad Story by Mary Craft
al Seashore except for two that were found just south of the National Seashore, on South Padre Island. Kemp’s Ridley and loggerhead nests have been found state-wide, with the largest numbers at the National Seashore. Only one leatherback and one hawksbill nests have been recorded in Texas in recent years, at the National Seashore. The nesting season for the green turtle is later than for the Kemp’s Ridley. Although no green turtle eggs found this year have hatched, most of the Kemp’s Ridley eggs have. Twenty-nine public releases of Kemp’s Ridley hatchlings have been held at Padre Island National Seashore so far this year. This is more than during any other year since we began holding public releases in the 1970s. Thousands of people have attended this year, with about 100500 people at each release. Many people came to our area just to witness a hatchling release. We thank the many people that helped run the releases that were enjoyed by so many people. Thank you to the more than 100 volunteers that donated many hours to help find the nests and release the tiny turtles. Some volunteers even aided with releases that occurred impromptu, when the turtles went into their frenzy and had to be released immediately in the middle of the night. As of August 5, eggs from four Kemp’s Ridley nests remain under our care in the National Seashore’s incubation facility. The last of them will hatch and be released in mid-August. We hope to hold one more public hatchling release this year, during the week of August 14, for hatchlings from one of the last nests found this year. However, it can be difficult to predict release dates and times when only a few nests are hatching, so it remains to be seen whether we will be able to hold another public release this year. We will give the latest information about the status of release plans on our Hatchling Hotline at 361-949-7163 and on our Facebook page entitled Padre Island NS Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery.
The Mormon religion is known most for its’ history of polygamy, in fact, that’s all about Mormon’s that many know. My recent trip to Salt Lake City made me want to learn more about it. It is a fairly recent religion having been started by their prophet Joseph Smith who as a teen was visited by God and Jesus Christ. Joseph wrote in the Book of Mormon, “My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right that I might know which to join. I was answered that I must join none for they were all wrong.” Joseph
The Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City took 40 years to build. Brigham Young declared “This is the place” for where it should be built but died before its completion. also wrote that he was told he would bring back the true church of Jesus Christ. Three years later, in 1827, an angel messenger from God came to him. Joseph was told where gold tablets with scriptures were buried. No one had ever seen the tablets not even his first (primary) wife although she said she did feel them under a cloth. They were returned to the angel Moroni after Joseph translated them to English from the ancient language. It became the Book of Mormon in 1830. The book besides having scriptures also describes the ancient inhabitants of the American Continent. It was written while he lived in western New York as a treasure seeker. During this time there was the Second Great Awakening which was a revivalist movement prominent in this area as in other rural areas. Smith soon had a following of family and friends and they moved to Kirtland, Ohio near Cleveland.
Go west young man Brigham Young became the second prophet and he and his missionaries further expanded the church. The group was pressured again with hostile groups and forced again to move on. Brigham did not know where he was taking his flock just that they would go west to the Rockies. He experienced a revelation when he saw the Salt Lake desert valley surrounded by mountains. The first harvest of wheat and vegetables was a questionable one since it was on untried soil. They had brought enough rations to make it through the winter but just barely. When spring arrived the thousands of acres of crops did well. Unfortunately swarms of crickets arrived in May and were destroying all the crops. They thought they had to pick up stakes and move onward when seagulls arrived and feasted on the crickets. To Mormons this demonstrated a miracle but to others it was the annual migration of the California seagulls to the Great Salt Lake. This seagull is the state bird and a monument was erected in 1913 depicting two birds eating crickets. It is located in the Temple Square and the piece was done by Brigham’s grandson. Here a Mormon, There a Mormon, Everywhere a Mormon Today there are six million Mormons in the States and 14 million worldwide because an important part of the faith is to spread the word. The first foreign mission was to England in 1837. Missions are normally done when sons graduate high school. Two travel together for two years to convert others. These are who you see in white shirts and ties on bicycles. They lead a strict life with no
They stayed there only a few years because those around them mistrusted their ways and the pronouncement that theirs was the only true Christian religion. In fact, the persecution was to the This statue depicts the time in 1829 when Jesus’ extent that Joseph Smith was tarred and feath- Apostles Peter, James and John gave the gift of the ered. The polygamy that was mostly to blame Holy Ghost to perform saving ordinances to Joseph started when God’s messenger again came to Joseph. “An angel with a drawn sword stood by me Smith. and told me if I did not establish that principle TV, no internet, no smoking, no drinking and no interacupon the earth I would lose my position and my life.” tion with the opposite sex. They wake early, read scripThe angel with the sword also declared that if the pritures for two hours and then spend all day on the mission mary wife disagreed ‘she shall be destroyed’. The group going to bed early to prepare for the next day. Mitt Romleft for Missouri (which they called Zion) to join other ney went to France in 1966 for traditional missionary Mormons adding to their numbers along the way. Jowork which his father did before him. He was there for seph tried to keep his plural marriages under wraps but 30 months and more than 200 baptisms were performed one of his former church elders, William Law, exposed during his time there which was considered alot for this him. Law was upset by the polygamy and got a printing society that loves their wine. Polygamy was ended in 1890 some say due to a revelation stating one must obey the law of the land they live in. Others say the government threatened to take church assets and not allow Utah to become a state which it did in 1896. There are a small minority of about 100,000 Fundamental Church of Latter Day Saints that stick to the original beliefs and these are the ones you see on the reality shows and read about in the news.
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press and started the newspaper “The Expositor”. In the first issue he wrote about Smith’s wives. Smith when he learned of this had Law’s printer, office and building destroyed. Smith and his brother were put to jail for this action and were killed there by a mob. Joseph was 38 and had 33 wives ages 14-56, eleven were married with living husbands.
Mormon pioneers used hand carts, designed by Brigham Young, to get their belongings to their new lives in Utah because they could not afford wagons. Many lives were lost along the way.
The last revelation received was in 1978 when it was revealed that black men could be ordained into the priesthood. In the Church of Latter Day Saints priests are any male heads of household. There are now 500,000 black Mormons most in Brazil, the Caribbean and West Africa and there have been temples built there. There about 150 temples worldwide and, of course, several in Utah. Writer’s Note: If you would like to learn more this is the link to a PBS four hour documentary http://www.pbs.org/mormons/view/.
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