Stormy Weather A2 Island Outdoors A11 Beaches …• Teeth Whitening Dental Services 361-867-1800...

The cabins are privately owned and located on leases through the Texas General Land Office.

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The voice of The Island since 1996

July 30, 2020 Weekly

The

MoonAround The

IslandBy Dale Rankin

Inside the Moon

www.islandmoon.com

Beaches A4

27° 37' 0.5952'' N | 97° 13' 21.4068'' WIssue 850

Stormy Weather A2 Island Outdoors A11

A little Island history

Promises Made During Island Annexation and Why Our Power Goes Out So Much

Around cont. on A4

Cleaning Up A9

FREE

Election cont. on A4

Island

History cont. on A4

Goodbye Hanna! By the numbers

Texas' Top Trading Partners

Source: Texas Comptroller

Texas Export Destinations/ 2019 Export Values

(Billions)

Mexico $108.6

Canada $28.5

South Korea $16.6

Brazil $13.5

Netherlands $11.7

Japan $11.3

China $11.0

United Kingdom $9.7

India $8.7

Taiwan $8.5

Hotel Occupancy for the weekend of July 24-25

52.8% Corpus Christi

47% Island and SPID corridor

$3.45 million for Island

Projects in City Bond Package

Island projects will get $3.45 million for six projects as part of a $75 million bond package approved by the Corpus Christi City Council on Tuesday.

A total of 42 projects around the city will go before voters in November. The projects will be broken into categories which include $61 million in Street improvements, $12 million in Park improvements, and $2 million for Public Safety projects.

Island projects

Island projects included in the bond package are as follows:

Douden Park $300,000 playground equipment

Park Road 22 Median improvements at Compass Street $300,000

Jackfish from end of Aquarius to Park Road 22 $900,000

Park Road 22 South Access Road, Commodore to Jackfish $1.6 million

Encantada at Nueces County Park $650,000

Beach Access Road 2A Engineering for new access road between 1 and 2. Near Porto Villageo.

Floating Cabins in Baffin Bay Area Take Pounding During

Hurricane Hanna

Registration Still Open for Seats On Flour Bluff School

Board Island taxpayers

make up $2.5 billion of $3.2 billion

taxable property in the district

Filing for the four seats on the Flour Bluff school board remains open through 5 p.m. Monday, August 17.

A majority of seats on the seven-member Board of Directors are up for election in November. Current members Jennifer Welp, Vice-President Michael Morgan, Jerry Hooper (appointed), and Jeff Rank each face re-election on the November ballot. The seats are all At-Large for four-year terms.

The district lists total revenues of $50,138,774 in the 2019-2020 adopted budget and levies a property tax of $1.07 per $100 of property value and makes up slightly more than half of the property tax burden for Island property tax payers.

Islanders are digging out this week after Hurricane Hanna swept across our shores. The pictures tell the story best. This is our version of the first draft of history for Hurricane Hanna, the storm that was.

Above: Bob Hall Pier after the storn removed the T-Head. Photo by Laurie Lyng.

By Dale Rankin

Owners of floating cabins around Baffin Bay are reporting that about eighty percent of the cabins in that area broke loose and ended up along the King Ranch shoreline and only about half are salvageable.

Eyewitnesses said Hurricane Hanna generated a five-foot storm surge through the Land Cut doing severe damage to cabins in its path.

The Texas General Land Office announced this week they are working with cabin owners to help them rebuild.

The “Church” an iconic cabin at Baffin Bay was partially sunk and is coming to the area under the JFK Causeway for repair.

Witnesses said floating cabins at Nine Mile Hole broke loose during the storm and were driven by the wind into land cabins near the cut entrance causing damage. They said many of the floating cabins that broke loose were able to be salvaged by owners but about half are damaged beyond repair.

The Church made it through the storm on a wing and a prayer.

Some cabins weren't so lucky.

By Dale Rankin

The day was November 20, 1981. The day that the Annexation Service Plan for Area D of The Island was signed making the majority of The Island part of the City of Corpus Christi.

Area D included most of the area south of Commodores, east of SPID and north of Whitecap, and southward along SPID to the City Limits at Sea Pines.

The Memorandum of Understanding which was finalized between the Padre Island Investment Corporation, the Padre Isles Property Owners Association, and the City of Corpus Christi is the Social Compact between the City of Corpus Christi and Islanders spelling out what each will and will

not do once The Island became part of the city.

It makes many promises, some kept, and others more like the promise made by the Great Father to the Native Americans that would remain inviolate as long as the Mosquitoes shall grow and the Gulf waters shall flow.

Power lines

One of the provisions of the MOU between the city and the PIPOA was that power lines on Padre Island would be buried; something we all likely pondered as we sat in the dark last weekend. But finding out where this plan went awry is mighty nigh impossible because city records, as

Island street signs prior to annexation.

We got some wind and rain on our little sandbar this week. Think of Hanna as a shot across our bow reminding us that it is after all hurricane season and we need to be ready to head OTB ina hurry. As storms go Hanna wasn’t a whopper.

An Island anemometer recorded steady winds of 61 miles per hour with gusts up to 70 mph, just enough to get our attention. The National Weather Service said the peak observed water level was 5.48 feet above Mean Sea Level at Bob Hall Pier which eclipses the previous highest water level measured on record there which was 4.29 feet above Mean Sea Level during Hurricane Ike in 2008. The NWS said the highest wind speed was 65.9 mph with gusts of 89.8 103.3 mph were both measured at Rincon Del San Jose, TX where the minimum record pressure of 976.1 mb was also recorded. The offshore buoy surfers use to judge incoming waves reported swells of 21 feet.

The waves lapped over the walkway at Bob Hall Pier taking off the “T” at the end. Nueces County Coastal Park Board Chairman Jim Needham said Sunday the county will get the pier inspected and if it is deemed safe will reopen the pier as it currently exists; an “I” instead of a “T.” The parking lot there was destroyed for the umpteenth time in recent memory. We’re starting to get the impression that Mother Nature doesn’t want a parking lot there. The sunken boat in Lake Padre made the Guardian newspaper in London.

Now that this boat has found its way to the bottom it becomes the salvage project for the private landowners who own the bottom of the lake.

The dune line in Kleberg County was cut back by about fifty feet and we were once again reminded that in times of turbulent waters the Michael J. Ellis Seawall is our best friend but is starting to show its age. One of the most vivid photographs of Hanna’s aftermath was this shot at Portofino on the seawall where this room was left without a wall but with everything inside still apparently intact.

When we play chicken with hurricanes around here the first question that runs through the collective Island mind is, what do I have in my freezer? That’s because we all know a power outage is coming. Hanna left 197,400 customers without power and some Islanders didn’t get power back on until a late as Tuesday. For most of us things went dark about midnight Saturday and we sweltered in dark houses until Sunday evening.

As is the case with many storms that bear down on us Hanna turned at the last minute. She went south where Hurricane Harvey went north. Longtime Islanders can name off a dozen storms that have turned at the last minute as they come close to

Room with a view. Photo by Mary Craft..

Photo by Matthew Rohmfeld

July 30, 2020 Island Moon A 2

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Stormy Weather!

The folks on Captain Kidd had some fun waiting out Hurricane Hannah. This is Matthew Rohmfeld and neighbor Steven of Captain Kidd. They had a friendly

photo competition to pass the time. A lifeguard stand found its way to the dunes during Hanna. Photo by Mary Craft.

The parking lot at Bob Hall Pier will take at least forty five days to rebuild. Photo by Debbie Noble

w w w. b r o o k l y n p i e . c o m

N E W Y O R K S T Y L E

&

H O M E O F T H E

GIANTSLICE

6181 Saratoga Blvd. #107ACorpus Christi, TX 78414

SOUTHSIDE15326 S. Padre Island #106

Corpus Christi, TX 78418

PADRE ISLAND

361.949.1100

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Publisher

Dale RankinAbout the Island Moon

The Island Moon is published every Thursday, Dale Rankin, Editor / Publisher.

Total circulation is 10,000 copies. Distribution includes delivery to 4,000 Island homes, free distribution of 3,000

copies in over 50 Padre Island businesses and condos, as well as 600 copies distributed in Flour Bluff, 1,400 copies on Mustang Island and Port Aransas businesses.

News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads,

payments, etc. may be left at the Moon Office.

The Island Moon Newspaper

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Port Aransas

Gulf Stream RV

Pioneer RV

Stripes on 1A

My Coastal Home

WB Liquor Store

Island Wine Room

Kody’s

Coffee Waves

Moby Dicks

IGA

Treasure Island

Ms. Woody’s Automotive

Port A Glass Studio

San Juan’s Restaurant

Wash Tub

Woody’s Sports Center

Back Porch Bar

Shorty’s Place

Fisherman’s Wharf

Giggity’s

Gratitude

The Gaff Trinity By the Sea

Episcopal

Where to Find The Island Moon

North Padre

All Stripes Stores

Black Sheep/Barrel

CVS Dollar General

Whataburger

Doc’s Restaurant

Snoopy’s Pier

Isle Mail N More

Island Italian

Brooklyn Pie Co.

Ace Hardware

Texas Star (Shell)

Jesse’s Liquor

Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant

Subway

Island Tire

Padre Pizzeria

And all Moon retail advertisers

WB Liquor

Flour BluffH.E.B.

Whataburger on Waldron

Ethyl Everly Senior Center

Fire Station

Police Station

Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID

Letters to the Editor

Did Ya Hear?By Dr. Mary Craft - Optometrist

Business BriefsThe beach closure that expires on August 1st will likely not be extended if new cases

continue on the current downward trend, according to Councilman Greg Smith. AEP is planning on transmission upgrades on the line across the Laguna that will help avoid long power outages in the future. The waves created during Hurricane Hanna were about 12 feet high but were not good for surfing because of the turbulent water beneath. Hanna has turned up the redfish especially at the Humble Channel.

The Bob Hall Pier inspection should take place next week. And it is expected to take up to fourty-five days to rebuild the parking lot.

The PIPOA has started the canal clean up. Call 949-7025 to report debris and they will send a crew out.

The storm displaced some of the jetty rocks to the middle of the Packery Channel. This was told to me by a surfer who crossed the channel with his surfboard from the South Packery jetty to the North Packery jetty to get to the better surfing conditions there. The North Packery beach was not accessible by land.

The only boats that sank during the storm were the ones that were lifted all the way to the top of their boat lift. That allowed water into the boat during the storm instead of letting it roll with the waves. I don’t include the boat near the Boathouse that has been in that spot for years.

There were about 80% of the floating fishing cabins broken loose around Baffin Bay and about half of those were salvageable ending up on the King Ranch shoreline. One of those destroyed was one that had been there for 80 years. The GLO does now allow rebuilds of fishing cabins. The cabins before Baffin were fine. This cabin info came from Joey Farah.

The General Land Office will be setting up dumpsters on the spoil islands this fall to collect destroyed cabins and debris.

The seawall parking lot can hold up to 300 vehicles.

It was great to see all the people picking up trash at the beach Sunday morning.

I am guessing that Hanna has affected the palm tree trimming business in not a good way.

I saw a frigatebird for the first time which is a seabird that mainly lives over water. The storm brought it to the Island.

This is my first column that I have not actually written about a particular business. Hopefully, my last one.

TurtlesHi Dale,

I hope this finds you well and I just wanted to give you an update. Although we are still not available for interviews at this time, we are issuing the following statement today:

The National Park Service review underscores the importance of the sea turtle program at Padre Island National Seashore and outlines goals to strengthen its mission and expand opportunities for shared stewardship. No cuts to the sea turtle program's base budget are planned or have been enacted. At present, the sea turtle program constitutes nearly one quarter of the park's base budget. We want to broaden the success of the sea turtle program to include the park’s other resources for their protection and for the enjoyment of our visitors.

Some of the review’s recommendations will require careful study and public feedback before deciding when, or if, they should be implemented. Indeed, no changes to the park’s nest management program have been implemented. Doing so would require further review as mandated by the Endangered Species Act. However, several other recommendations are opportunities to implement agency best practices. We believe reducing overtime, strategically hiring seasonal employees, and instituting health, life, and safety measures better aligns this program with National Park Service practices and conservation principles.

Charles (Chuck) Lassiter

Chief of Interpretation and Education

Public Information Officer

Padre Island National Seashore

Bob Hall PierThe new pier open in 1983, was built of

reinforced concrete, designed like a giant Chinese puzzle. There are no bolts or pins. Instead gravity holds the pier together. It was originally thought this could be storm proof because the concrete deck squares can be pop out and allow the rest of the structure to remain

The pier was made so a cherry-picker could pick the blocks up and move them to the beach. For some reason Nueces County failed to do this, and let's the storm destroy parts of the structure. With the blocks removed the pylons would withstand a better chance of not being damaged. Instead they just let the blocks shift and grind from the surge of the water until something gives. There must be a reason they don't remove the blocks,, because this isn't the first time that the county has let this happen.

Floyd Rayburn

Editor's note: for more information on this issue, see Jay Garder's column "On the Rocks" on page A11.

Traffic LightDale,

I made a Freedom of Information Request a while ago regarding the "Jurisdiction" of the traffic light at the bottom of the bridge. When this light was proposed, we were presented a petition which said the light would make it safer to exit our neighborhood. We were also told it would be a State-of-the-art light that would be able to monitor traffic flow over the bridge and time the light accordingly. We gladly signed. The light did make it safer to exit our neighborhood. As for State-of-art??? I investigated this light about 10 years ago and was told "No way." TXDOT would not allow it on the highway they control whether the city wanted it or not.....well somehow it happened anyway (Developer money talks). Now somehow the city has taken control over something I was told they had no say in (turning the light off and closing the turn lanes) As I read this agreement(attached) the City has no authority to do this at their discretion. Read paragraph #9, page 3 "The City shall not Install, maintain, or permit the installation of any type of traffic control device which will affect or influence the use of state highways unless approved in writing by the State." I am assuming since TXDOT did not include the "Permission slip" the City would need to shut down the traffic control device, that there is not one.

Turning this light off and closing the Turn lanes has made stretch of road treacherous in so many ways and the only safe alternative to exit or enter the neighborhood is to drive down the access road to Commodores and perform a U-turn. As much fun as that is, imagine it when they start the bridge project and that becomes another major thoroughfare." I have 6 kids and five of them are drivers, so I have a vested interest in matter. Is there any chance of applying your prodigious investigative journalistic skills to this matter?

Thank you,

Kurt Tugman

Response from TxDot:

This is a city signal. They installed and maintain it…As for the agreements, TxDOT has a Municipal Maintenance Agreement that incorporates particular items that the city will maintain including signals within city limits on TxDOT roadways. Thanks.

Reason for Contact: Open Records Request

Letters to Ed cont. on A4

Comment: I am trying to determine who has the jurisdiction/control over the intersection at Park Road 22 and Aquarius at the end of the JFK Causeway. I would like a copy of the agreements between the City of Corpus and TX Dot regarding the installation of the stoplight and turn lanes at this intersection.

Paragraph 9:

Traffic control devices such as signs, traffic signals, and pavement markings, with respect to type of device, points of installation and necessity, will be determined by traffic and engineering studies. The City shall not install, maintain, or permit the installation of any type of traffic control device which will effect or influence the use of State highways unless approved in writing by the State. Traffic control devices installed prior to the date of this agreement are hereby made subject to the terms of this agreement and the City agrees to the removal of such devices which affect or influence the use of State highways unless their continued use is approved in writing by the State. It is understood that basic approval for future installations of traffic control signals by the State or as a joint project with the City, will be indicated by the proper City official’s signature on the title sheet of the plans. Both parties should retain a copy of the signed title sheet or a letter signed by both parties acknowledging which signalized intersections are covered by this agreement. Any special requirements not vcove4red within this agreement will be covered under a separate agreement.

From our Facebook PageDale’s column on the Padre Island

National Seashore

Linda Hurt Tart -- Thank you for this eye opening article. It raises a number of questions, such as what will happen with the proceeds collected for the use of this property? Do I really expect a state representative to stand tall and address this issue? The only thing I see from all those involved with our current government is “what can I get out of this”? I think it’s time we all, the users of this area, to force the issue. For us to stop closing our eyes or burying our heads in the sand and saying “things will get better “. Yeah right!

Will Nash -- I don't think the experiences Texans are having with the NPS are unique to PINS. They act in similar fashion in other National Seashores (Cape Hatteras, namely). Great article, thanks for the background!

MK Walling -- It would be nice to have a local attorney make a case on this. Clearly there is crossover and over reaches as well as breaches. Its an easement! Right?

Doris Kaubisch -- Good article, thanks. Unbelievable how they hide information from the public.

James Andrew -- We need to bring this to the attention of our national and state representatives attention. Vehicle and foot access should never be taken away from the general public. This is as others stated happening in other federal parks also. They get control of the land, make their own rules without public opinions/votes too often, and also consider their property and everyone else ( general public ) are for the most

part just extra work they don't want to deal with. We the people pay for the parks, the upkeep, the salaries etc etc. we should be allowed to responsibly enjoy those same parks whenever we want to. We try to work with them, the parks need to do the same not pull rank and say that local and state opinions dont matter and go behind our backs on rules and regs period.

Sandra Lamirand -- When you read the Park's recommendation it clearly appears to be a complete dismantle of Dr. Shaver's renowned Turtle Division and a definite money grab. Please write Senator Cornyn. Also go to PEER site and file petition.

Jan Roberson -- Yesterday, I spoke with Robert Arnold, Legislative Correspondent for U.S. Senator John Cornyn. He understands that Eric Brunnemann, PINS new superintendent, has embraced the Review and is trying

to dismantle the Sea Turtle Program. Robert asked how Senator Cornyn could help. Suggestions from myself, Nick Meyer, Nancy Lubbock, Maureen Hurlow and others, include; 1.Leave the sea turtle program as it is, it works for the turtle lovers, fishermen, and brings in over a million dollars to the local community, 2. Withdraw the Review, it is fill with inaccuracies and bias information. (leaving the eggs on the beach will surely increase mortality rates of all sea turtles found on out Texas beaches, which are all threatened or critically endangered) 3. The Florida model they are basing this report on will not work on PINS due to the remoteness of potential nesting areas, which requires constant monitoring by volunteers and staff during nesting season. The volunteers and staff also rely on fishermen who often report the turtles nesting or stranding. The fisherman does this 12 months a year and often report stunned turtles due to cold in winter. 4. This report was put together by staff out of state without any consultation from fishing groups, which are the main users of that beach. The entire report should be withdrawn! Please write to Robert Arnold express your concerns.

[email protected] -- To quote from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service Budget Justifications, years 2013-2020, "While all parks face their own challenges, collectively, national parks are responsible for tremendous economic benefits to local businesses and surrounding communities. many national parks are located in areas of the country that are rural or isolated in nature; so the positive impact of these parks is crucial to the survival of the surrounding communities.”

Save Our SeaTurtles SOS

Juan Elefante -- What would happen if it could become a STATE PARK not a National park?

Patti Head White -- Texas State Parks are managed very well. Even without much funding. Lots of volunteers that love nature and park experiences.

Beach Clean Up By Debbie Noble.


History cont. from A1

Around cont. from A1

Election cont. from A1 far as I can find, make no reference to Island power lines buried or otherwise. As Padre Island was built out the power lines were privately owned so the only way to have enforced that promise made to The Island would have been through zoning laws which were never passed. The overhead lines have failed regularly over the decades and will likely continue to do so.

Up until that past half decade the Corpus Christi Fire Department would regularly spray the lines to wash off salt deposits which weighted the lines and caused them to fail in high winds. Periods of drought meant more frequent power outages. That problem has been mitigated in recent years by taken preventative measure as lines have been worked on.

But going forward the only way, and it’s a longshot, to get Island power lines underground would be through some form of zoning.

Life in the Big City

There are two things that can be said for certain after thirty- nine years of Life in the Big City. First, property taxes in Port Aransas are 60 cents for every dollar paid by Islanders who live inside the Corpus Christi limits. Being able to keep your sales and hotel/motel taxes and lion’s share of beach parking permits has its advantages.

Second, when it comes to promises made to The Island by the City of Corpus Christi on November 20, 1981 the city’s performance is a mixed bag at best.

The four-page MOU covers much ground and is a supplement to and expansion of the Service Plan for The Island required by state law for annexation to became a reality. Islanders already living on The Island were wary from the beginning. They asked for and got specific assurances from the city that certain services would be guaranteed; something like the anti-Federalists requiring that the Bill of Rights be attached to the original Constitution just to make sure everyone understood what the agreement said and didn’t say. As our Spanish speaking friends like to say, a little Pelon to make sure the deal is right.

Here are a few entries from the “Island Bill of Rights.”

Parks

Section II. Parks.

Section IV. Parks and Recreation; Subsection B. Park Maintenance

“Upon conveyance by Padre Isles Investment Corporation and acceptance by City, City will assume responsibility for maintaining existing park areas and improvements thereon. Such level of maintenance will be equal to that provided to other parks in the City”

Based on that item we may then assume that all parks throughout the City of Corpus Christi are infested wall to wall with grass burs, pocked with gopher holes, without public restroosm, not kept watered, and mostly devoid of grass (excluding weeds).

In another agreement between developers and the city an agreement was reached to not allow for the assessment of special fees for parks as is done in OTB part of the city. This fiat came from developers to protect them from having to pay the fee when the Island was first developed. However, it did not release the city from maintaining Island parks at a promised level “equal to that provided to other parks in the City” If other parks in the city lack enough gophers to be “equal” to ours we got plenty. We can export them OTB. After all, a promise is a promise and if our parks are different we are not worthy of being part of the city and the annexation agreement is off.

Sidewalks

If you have ever wondered why Island streets are almost entirely devoid of sidewalks your answer lies in Section V of the MOU under Streets.

Specifically, Subsection C. Sidewalks:

“City will not require sidewalks to be installed in previously platted areas.”

In layman’s terms that means, if they ain’t there already we ain’t building them. That one is a promise kept.

Storm insurance

Even in 1981 the cost of Windstorm insurance was a concern. In Section VI. Under Other:

“B. Windstorm Insurance Premiums.

City will consider support of the Associations efforts to obtain lower premiums for Windstorm Insurance for structures located on the Island and subject the Architectural Controls of the Association.”

Also a promise kept.

FEMA regulations which limited flood insurance were also a concern:

“C. Barrier Island Legislation

City will consider support of the Association’s efforts to mitigate the impact of legislation by the U.S. Congress to restrict the use of land on barrier islands and deny the benefits of certain federal programs to Island property owners.”

This has been a mixed bag as the harshest restrictions have been limited to the area south of the city limits, but also cover the area just north of Zahn Road which has stalled development in the Tortuga Dunes project.

Beach driving

Even in 1981 allowing cars on the beach in front of the seawall was already an issue. The tortured language in Section D of the MOU providing an example of saying nothing in a lot of words:

“D. Vehicles Traffic in Front of Seawall.

1. The Association and CITY recognize that, in Texas, beaches are open to the public. Neither the Association nor City seek to deny access of any portion of any beach to any one (sic). The Association and CITY do, however recognize that certain hazards to public health and safety do exist on the beach in front of the seawall in Section A of the subdivision. The hazard is due to the presence and movement of motor vehicles along the narrow stretch of beach front which also has a very heavy density of pedestrians thereon. The hazard is aggravated and compounded by the behaviors of vehicle drivers. To the end of rendering this small stretch of beach-front safe for human use and inhibiting unlawful conduct thereon, while at the same time, allowing the full use of the beach by people, the Association and City agree to cooperate in seeking solutions to avoid stated hazards and public safety problems. “

So while the City in 1981 was “aggravated” by the hazard of having cars on the beach in front of the seawall which is “compounded” by the knuckleheads who abuse it, thirty-nine years later the cars are still there.

Not exactly a promise broken, but a can kicked down the beach for thirty-nine years is neither a promise kept.

Island ambulance

Keeping a fully staffed ambulance on The Island was a concern from the beginning.

“Section VII. EMERGENCY SERVICES.

B. Medical

1. City will station an ambulance on the Island appropriately staffed within six (6) months following the date of annexation.”

Notice it doesn’t mention anything about moving the ambulance into town when calls are heavier there, or cutting the number of personnel on it to move them into town. It is reasonable to take from that inviolate language that it would be unacceptable to roll a firetruck for a medical call because the ambulance is in town or not sufficiently staffed to make the call.

By the time an ambulance makes it to The Island from a fire station in town a good many medical emergencies will have resolved themselves – and not in a good way.

This one has to go down as a promise reluctantly and only partially kept, at best. .

Canal safety

Subsection C. Regulation of Traffic on Canals

“The City agrees to police as necessary the canals and associated areas to protect public safety and private property.”

As we sit here thirty-nine years after this promise was made there is no evidence that the city intends to enforce No Wake zones and other infractions of city ordinances in our canals even though ordinances are on the books that allow them to do so. But when Padre Island was annexed that was the deal.

Thirty-nine years later the mosquitos are still growing and the Gulf waters still flowing which is more than could be said last weekend of the power in our overhead lines.

The Texas Comptroller’s office lists the Market Value of property in the district at $3,835,908,969 with a Taxable Value of $3,201,589,196. Numbers presented to the Corpus Christi City Council in September, 2019 list the Taxable Value of property on Padre Island at just over $2.5 billion.

The district has a total of seven campuses, including three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school as well as two combined campuses. The district website list enrollment at 5,600 students in prekindergarten through 12th grades.

The election

Candidates must pick up registrations packets at the Administration Building Flour Bluff ISD 2505 Waldron Road. Their hours are: Monday through Thursday: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm. Friday. The office will remain open: Monday, August 17, until 5:00 pm to accept application filings.

The drawing of lots for the order in which the candidate names will appear on the ballot is Monday, August 17, 5:30 p.m. in the District Boardroom, Flour Bluff ISD, 2505 Waldron Road. Failure to appear or have a representative present at the designated time will result in a random drawing by a disinterested party. Early voting begins: Monday, October 19, 2020 and ends Friday, October 30. Election Day is: Tuesday, November 3.

the Padre shore, Gilbert being the largest. Why this happens is the subject of eternal debate Around The Island with the most common, but scientifically unverified, explanation being the shape of Continental Shelf off our shore that pulls up cool water from the bottom and pushes it ahead of the storm surge causing the storm to turn. Try as we might we have never been able to find a definitive explanation for the turning of storms, we just observe what has happened over time. Maybe our readers can inform us.

Hurricane Season 2020 is still mostly ahead of us so be ready to jump OTB everybody. And say hello if you see us Around The Island.

T-Head at Bob Hall Pier taken in April 2020 by Laurie Lyng.

Storming the Beaches

Photo by Laurie Lyng.

Red Dot Pier Flooded Photo by Evelyn Pless-Schuberth.

Sandball Nation It's never too late for a kind gesture By Keneth Fain.

The after the wild weekend of Hanna hurricane look. Photo by Riekie Roncinske.

The storm tide moved the dune line back in Kleberg County.

Photo by Laurie Lyng.

Turtle CountKemp’s Ridley

So far this year, 262 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):

0 Bolivar Peninsula

1 Galveston Island

1 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside

6 Surfside Beach

0 Quintana Beach

1 Bryan Beach

0 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach

0 Sargent Beach

1 Matagorda Peninsula

0 Matagorda Island

18 San Jose Island

13 Mustang Island

143 North Padre Island, including 136 at Padre Island National Seashore

72 South Padre Island

6 Boca Chica Beach

Loggerhead Turtle

So far this year, 4 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast, including (north to south in state):

1 Brazoria County, North of Surfside

1 Mustang Island


Green Turtle

So far this year, 20 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast, including (north to south in state):


7 South Padre Island

of the seawall began disappearing underground. But for the last few years only two of them have been visible on the northern half of the seawall as the dredged sand dried out and started migrating north. A little simple math tells us there is at least six feet of sand that has accumulated along the foot of the seawall due to the dredging and renourishment process. There is enough sand there to widen the beach by at least one hundred feet and probably more. For decades city crews scooped up sand at the water’s edge and dropped it in front of the dunes with the idea of, one removing seaweed and flotsam and jetsam from the most used part of the beach. This infuriating plan served to move the dunes forward and the beach back. Fortunately in the past couple of years under beach management that process was reversed

and we saw the beach south of Packery and along the seawall grow to the widest it has ever been, even immediately after the first Packery dredge.

That sand is still there, it’s just now piled up against the seawall and the jetty and in the manmade dunes that have formed there since Packery was dug. All the sand we need to widen the beach is literally right under our feet. We don’t need sand from the ship channel or anywhere else. The cost of using dredge sand to widen the beach is somewhere in the neighborhood of six dollars per cubic yard, the cost of using the sand that is already there because it was already brought up from the bottom of the channel is about a dollar fifty for the same amount. The simplest solution also happens to be the most cost effective.

If the city or county can get some FEMA money from Hanna, which has been declared a disaster by the governor freeing up funds that is

icing on the cake. The storm has presented us with an opportunity. We had a problem before Hannah hit but now we have a solution.

Let’s not overthink this.


Stuff I Heard on the IslandBy Dale Rankin

In some ways hurricanes can be looked at as opportunities and that is the case with our beaches. The question of where to get the sand to renourish them has been hanging fire for almost two years. A few months ago a report to the Island Strategic Action Committee stated that there is not enough beach quality sand along the bottom of Packery Channel to re-nourish the beach along the Michael J. Ellis Seawall and after this weekend’s storm the beach is going to need to be widened. According to the studies presented to ISAC all of the beach quality sand in Packery Channel has been used up. So where is it? It’s piled up along the South Packery Jetty. The sand from the original dredge of the channel in 2005 and in the subsequent dredging projects since didn’t go away it just kept moving north with the prevailing wind and the flood tide from Hanna sped up the process

considerably.

The storm cut the width of the beach considerably from Whitecap Beach and along the south end of the seawall to the point that some kind of renourishment will be necessary. The debate has been whether to dredge the canal, and more importantly where to get the sand for the beach. Remember that Packery Channel was designed and funded as a beach renourishment project, the channel, at least officially, was secondary. There was

even talk of trying to get sand from the dredging of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel for the beach here.

But Hanna reminded us that the beach is a dynamic entity, the wind is constantly moving

sand from south to north on the prevailing wind, it’s just that when a storm hits the sand moves in fast motion; what would have taken a month instead took a day. Trash can holders that stood five feet above grade last week are now two feet above grade. The Beach Bum monument on SoPac last week was head high and is not barely chest high.

And the newly deposited sand is on top of what the prevailing southeasterly wind had already

delivered before the storm. When Packery was constructed the granite blocks on the jetty stood between three and four feet above the beach but over time the grade of the beach rose to the top of the blocks in the area immediately behind the beach, but after the storm the raised beach now extends well inland.

So if we are looking for sand to remake the beach along the seawall we have to look no further than the area south of Packery Channel. All the sand we need is there.

Along the seawall

Newcomers to Padre Island may not be aware that there are eight steps on the seawall, each about eighteen inches in height. It wasn’t until Packery Channel was dredged and the spoils used to widen the beach in 2005 that the steps

Tides of the WeekTides for Bob Hall Pier July 30 - August 6

Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time Moon

/Low Time in Feet Sunset Visible

Th 30 High 3:19 AM 1.7 6:52 AM Set 3:00 AM 74

30 Low 6:32 PM -0.6 8:19 PM Rise 5:10 PM

F 31 High 4:15 AM 1.8 6:52 AM Set 3:50 AM 83

31 Low 7:26 PM -0.7 8:18 PM Rise 6:11 PM

Sa 1 High 5:03 AM 1.8 6:53 AM Set 4:46 AM 90

1 Low 8:19 PM -0.6 8:18 PM Rise 7:07 PM

Su 2 High 5:46 AM 1.8 6:53 AM Set 5:44 AM 96

2 Low 9:08 PM -0.6 8:17 PM Rise 7:58 PM

M 3 High 6:21 AM 1.7 6:54 AM Set 6:43 AM 99

3 Low 9:52 PM -0.4 8:16 PM Rise 8:43 PM

Tu 4 High 6:46 AM 1.6 6:54 AM Set 7:42 AM 99

4 Low 10:33 PM -0.3 8:15 PM Rise 9:22 PM

W 5 High 6:59 AM 1.4 6:55 AM Set 8:39 AM 98

5 Low 12:54 PM 1.1 8:15 PM Rise 9:57 PM

5 High 2:55 PM 1.2

5 Low 11:10 PM -0.1

Th 6 High 7:04 AM 1.3 6:55 AM Set 9:33 AM 95

6 Low 1:06 PM 1.0 8:14 PM Rise 10:30 PM

6 High 4:12 PM 1.1

6 Low 11:44 PM 0.1

City UpdateBy Greg Smith, City Council Member District 4

Last week in a storm preparation meeting, looking around the room with everyone in a mask, I couldn’t help but think what a year 2020 has turned out to be.

On Sunday the Mayor, myself and City staff observed the damage on the Island from hurricane Hanna. We started at the new Island Mart IGA where a crew was working on some minor issues. The project manager said that the damage was related to temporary construction components that are not part of the finished project. We then went to Bob Hall pier which bore the brunt of the storm. The popular beach parking area and picnic tables are destroyed along with significant damage to the pier and approaches. The pier is County owned and their staff was already working in the area. Next was the beach approach of White Cap, the traffic circle is going to require some repair. There was a large amount of erosion at the South end of the seawall that will need to be addressed. We then went to the Windward parking lot. All was well; it was good to see the Seawall looked undamaged because in Hurricane Allen in 1980 it was close to being destroyed. Then on to the Packery parking lots and boat ramp. The new pavilion had a few ridge shingles turned but otherwise OK. The revetments that were Harvey damaged showed no additional damage, indicating a lesser water velocity than we saw in Harvey. Both storms overtopped SH361 but there was not the erosion of the shoulders in Hanna that Harvey caused. On the beach the foredunes were clipped. This is to be expected, Brett, Katrina, Rita and Ike all eroded the foredunes and the dunes subsequently rebuilt in the ebb and flow of sand movement following natural cycles. Newport pass opened as in Harvey. All in all it could have been a lot worse.

The one dark spot of Hanna over Harvey for the Island was the loss of power. In speaking with AEP there were some transmission line issues that had to be rectified first that contributed to the length of loss of service. AEP is planning on transmission upgrades on the line across the Laguna that will help in the future.

Overall the City did well during the storm. The largest exception is North Beach which was mostly underwater and suffered both property damage and beach erosion. North Beach with no dunes to protect it and streets with heights above sea level comparable to the road to Doc’s and Snoopy’s is always vulnerable to a high surge that was part of Hanna’s storm personality. The old section of Laguna Shore road was also damaged. The contract for improving and raising those sections of Laguna Shores is to be

opened next week. It can’t come soon enough.

Budget

At City Council on Tuesday we were presented with the draft budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020. The highlights were a drop in general fund spending of 2 percent to reflect expectations of lower sales tax revenue due to the pandemic. The budget does have seventy-eight million dollars for streets. One of the projects will be the repaving of Ocean Drive which has fallen into poor condition. Also included is a street sweeping program which will result in less debris going into the water and just plain cleaner streets. There will be a web meeting on August 17th for district four seeking public input on the draft budget.

Bonds

The other big topic was the proposed 2020 bond. It was pared down from the prior week from 113 million dollars to 80 million to insure there is no increase in property taxes as expressed by Council at the last meeting. No District four projects were dropped. The major cuts were proposed public safety improvements and a long course Olympic pool. On the street side there was a lively discussion on one of the largest street projects on the bond, a new extension of Rodd field to the Oso. The project would add a small amount of developable acreage, about 30 that is not currently accessible. The argument in favor for the project was that it would provide a secondary relief of the Rancho Vista subdivision which has three existing access points on Yorktown. The basic issue was why are we doing a collector street of limited value and not improving that portion of Yorktown which is a narrow, dark two

lane road with five new or under constructions subdivisions being built in that section of the road and the additional traffic Yorktown will see from the New Del Mar Campus. I felt it was a poor use of bond dollars and did not vote for the issue. Also brought up in the discussion was the fact that TXDOT will pay for 80% of the road if they build it in their ten year plan.

Our Covid new cases continued the decline that started on July 15. While this is good news the time from infection to hospitalization lag new cases and our health cared system is extremely stressed. Both ICU and total beds are at record levels with 401 patients in the hospital as of Tuesday. Our infection rate continues to be higher than New York at their peak.

The beach closure that expires on August 1 will likely not be extended if new cases continue on the current trend.

Last week the bottom of these steps on the seawall were visible meaning that the storm

put about three feet of new sand here.

When Packery Channel first opened these blocks were three to four feet above the grade of the beach, now the sand has covered some

of them.

This cutbank left behind by Hanna shows the quantity of sand that has piled up south of

Packery. This sand came up from the bottom of the channel during dredging and migrated

here after it was placed on the beach along the seawall.

A close look shows the small shells that indicated this sand came from the bottom of

Packery during dredging.

Tides from Hanna cut breaches in the dunes south of Packery, some of the sand is now

behind the dune line while some is now piled up along the south jetty.

The sand on the north end of the Michael J. Ellis Seawall is now up to the top, eighth, step, meaning there is at least six feet of sand below that was dredged

up from Packery Channel.

Hanna narrowed the beach at the soupth end of the seawall.

The pedestrian beach is now well under the 150 foot width required by state law to close

the beach to vehicles.

The storm narrowed the beach south of Whitecap.


July 30, 2020Island MoonA6

John Scopes - The Monkey Trail Part-III

By Dotson Lewis Special to the Island Moon

Senior Moments

By Abigail Bair

Anecdotingly

Welco Padre

Dotson’s Note: Thanks to stories I heard from my dad and information from T. T. Martin, Russel D. Owen, Douglas O. Linder and a bunch of really old newspapers for the facts contained in this report, and to the same old newspapers which I scanned for the photos.

As a reminder, the last statement in Part II was, “In response to Darrow's relentless questions as to whether the six days of creation, as described in Genesis, were twenty-four hour days, Bryan said ‘My impression is that they were periods.’”

Bryan, who began his testimony calmly, stumbled badly under Darrow's persistent prodding. At one point the exasperated Bryan said, "I do not think about things I don't think about." Darrow asked, "Do you think about the things you do think about?" Bryan responded, to the derisive laughter of spectators, "Well, sometimes." Both old warriors grew testy as the examination continued. Bryan accused Darrow of attempting to "slur at the Bible." He said that he would continue to answer Darrow's impertinent questions because "I want the world to know that this man, who does not believe in God, is trying to use a court in Tennessee--." Darrow interrupted his witness by saying, "I object to your statement" and to "your fool ideas that no intelligent Christian on earth believes." After that outburst, Raulston ordered the court adjourned. The next day, Raulston ruled that Bryan could not return to the stand and that his testimony the previous day should be stricken from evidence.

The confrontation between Bryan and Darrow was reported by the press as a defeat for Bryan. According to one historian, "As a man and as a legend, Bryan was destroyed by his testimony that day." His performance was described as that of "a pitiable, punch drunk warrior." Darrow, however, has also not escaped criticism. Alan Dershowitz, for example, contended that the celebrated defense attorney "comes off as something of an anti-religious cynic."

The trial was nearly over. Darrow asked the jury to return a verdict of guilty in order that the case might be appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Under Tennessee law, Bryan was thereby denied the opportunity to deliver a closing speech he had labored over for weeks. The jury complied with Darrow's request, and Judge Raulston fined him $100.

Six days after the trial, William Jennings Bryan was still in Dayton. After eating an enormous dinner, he lay down to take a nap and died in his sleep. Clarence Darrow was hiking in the Smoky Mountains when word of Bryan's death reached him. When reporters suggested to him that Bryan died of a broken heart, Darrow said "Broken heart nothing; he died of a busted belly." In a louder voice he added, "His death is a great loss to the American people."

A year later, the Tennessee Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Dayton court on a technicality--not the constitutional grounds as Darrow had hoped. According to the court, the fine should have been set by the jury, not Raulston. Rather than send the case back for further action, however, the Tennessee Supreme Court dismissed the case. The court commented, "Nothing is to be gained by prolonging the life of this bizarre case."

There are several places one can look for answers as to how much America changed in July 1925 and the months afterwards when the meaning of the trial was hotly debated. One way to evaluate the effect of the trial is examine newspaper accounts of public reaction, recognizing all the biases that might accompany such reports. A second approach is to measure the reactions of editorialists, few of whom could avoid offering an opinion on the attention-grabbing trial. (Public opinion polls—a more direct measure—were uncommon in 1925.) Another is to look to the decisions of textbook publishers as they readied next editions of biology textbooks for marketing to schools around the country. Finally, a sense of opinion

shifts in certain states might be reflected in how anti-evolution legislation fared in the period immediately following the Scopes trial. As might be expected, members of the public asked their opinions about evolution at the time of the Scopes trial came up with a variety of answers.

One Dayton high school student, asked by journalist after the trial what he thought of Scopes and the theory he taught, said: “I like him, but I don’t believe I came from a monkey.”

The question of the day is in what ways and for how many Americans did July 1925 mark the beginning of a re-examination of long-held religious beliefs and a growing acceptance of evolution and its implications for the place of humans on the planet? The answer is complicated and, as is the case for most important questions, not one anyone can with confidence provide full details.

Each side came away feeling their cause had been advanced in Dayton. Russel D. Owen, writing in the New York Times, reported, “Each

side withdrew at the end of the struggle satisfied it had unmasked the absurd pretensions of the other.”

To summarize the trail Douglas O. Linder wrote “The eight days of the Scopes trial have the poignancy that accompanies the memory of a moment just before a life-changing event. A sepia-toned photograph of trial participants could be the photograph of a group of white-water rafters as they approach Class V rapids. William Jennings Bryan is seen shouting furiously to other rafters to paddle backwards, away from the falls. Looking at the picture, we know he is seconds away from his doom. Clarence Darrow and H. L. Mencken chomp on their cigars, laughing mockingly at the concern of their frenzied raft mate. Scopes is there too, sitting quietly and staring ahead. The defense’s religious and scientific experts are crowded together at the back of the raft, talking among themselves about the best way of avoiding the deadly boulders that lie ahead. In the trees on the far bank and over the rapids there appears to a mist—the mist of a god or of a departing god, perhaps. The water is churning, suggesting the presence of the ideas that moved human history.”

The Scopes trial by no means ended the debate over the teaching of evolution, but it did represent a significant setback for the anti-evolution forces. Of the fifteen states with anti- evolution legislation pending in 1925, only two states (Arkansas and Mississippi) enacted laws restricting teaching of Darwin's theory.

Dotson’s Other Not: Well, fellow Moon Monkeys, what is/was you take on Scopes and The Monkey Trial? I recall my Dad and friends debating this event during the Great Depression. To me, listening to the discussions was great entertainment!

Thanks for reading and commenting on the articles in The Island Moon. Contact me at [email protected] or call/text: 530-748-8475.

Please note: The Weekly Veterans Round Table Meetings are now on Zoom on Tuesdays 9-11a.m., if you would like to join us, please call, text or Email me. When the meetings are resumed at Del Mar College, all veterans, their families and anyone interested in veterans’ activities, are invited. The Veterans Radio Round Table is on the air on KEYS AM 1440, 8 – 10 a.m., Saturdays. The next show will be August 1,, 2020. Please listen and call in or text. The listener/text line is: 361-882-5397…It’s your two hours, please let us hear from you.

I gotta say, folks, I never anticipated a surprise party from a hurricane. While Harvey lolled like a gorging hippopotamus over the Gulf, Hanna slipped in quick as a fox raiding a henhouse.

As Hanna built herself up into a tizzy over the Gulf last weekend, my Kansan parents became increasingly worried.

Friday afternoon, Mom called and said, “We need to come over and board up your windows. Hanna is a hurricane.”

“Let me call Jan,” I replied.

Island Moon publisher Jan Rankin grew up in South Florida and is my go-to storm advisor on anything that originates over an ocean.

“Are you boardin’ ‘er up?” I asked, although Jan and Dale have very cool metallic shutters that (when installed) make their pink house look like a background shot in a David Lynch movie.

“Hech no!” Hialeah Jan replied, “It’s only a CAT 1.”

Experience told the truth once again. I lost power on Saturday for around 11 hours. After about 8 of those, Stadler, myself and the contents of my freezer bravely evacuated to the Rev’s house where they still had air conditioning and internet.

AEP returned my service by around 11 p.m. that night, but Stadler was more comfortable with the whole pack together, so we stayed.

I fretted the night away about my hurricane preparation errors. I forgot to put the trashcans in the garage. I left one of the electric blue plastic lawn chairs on the deck. I didn’t board anything up.

My worry was in vain. I returned the next morning to find that the winds hadn’t even tipped over my big green can, and the chair (rather than crashing through the kitchen windows) had mostly stayed where I so irresponsibly left it.

Harvey tore the roof off of the house – causing eight months of loathsome interaction with carpetbagging Disaster Capitalists.

Later Sunday afternoon, I phoned the Rev and G.P. to see if they wanted to drive out to the Island to check on the Moon offices and on Island Presbyterian Church (where my Mom is the new pastor).

“I don’t really want to go out there,” said the G.P. (who had been obsessively spying on the hurricane since it was a tropical storm). “We’ll take the S.U.V.”

A few minutes later we set out to the Island (all of us wearing our masks without complaint). As we exited the JFK Bridge, I noticed that the “Welco Padre” banner that hangs on the Day & Night Boardwalk Shopping Center sign was still intact.

“Look, ma!” I exclaimed, “We’re still half welcome on the Island!”

The Moon office was fine except for a power outage.

When we pulled up to check on the church, there was already a family of good Samaritans cleaning the palm debris out of the parking lot. They looked a little embarrassed when Mom thanked them. “This,” they appeared to be thinking, “is what you’re supposed to do after a hurricane.”

They weren’t wrong.

Here’s the deal: Hanna was a wussicane compared to Harvey, yet some people are behaving much worse than they did when confronted by real disaster. Mild inconvenience appears to be more angering than having to talk

to Dorothy over at All State about having one’s roof blown to the magical Land of Oz.

After Harvey, communities banded together to clean up the debris, help small business recover, share stories of that storm and those long-past, find homes for the homeless, and clothes, food and toys for those without. One notable Hurricane Hero brought a truck full of ice-cold beer which he handed out for free to exhausted workers.

Hanna wasn’t even close to Harvey. Why not count your

lucky stars, set your trashcan back on its wheels, help a neighbor if

you can, and worry about the next one?

The National Weather Service predicts that Hanna is only the first of many, and certainly we can learn from her.

If this, however, is the benchmark for behavior, it’s going to be a damned long season.

We all chose to live on the Gulf – a place that breeds toughness like other places breed rabbits. It’s not all beaches, excellent tacos, and margaritas. If you were fooled by a Jimmy Buffet song, sorry – buy a map that’s not printed on a restaurant placemat.

We ought to be at least as resilient as the seemingly half-indestructible “Welco Padre” sign – and if you feel like you can’t be – well…

… GO!

By Pastor Kris Bair Island Presbyterian Church

Like you, I’ve been thinking a lot about suffering these days. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to confront real-life suffering, magnified and intensified far beyond our usual news dosage.

What does the appalling death of more than 100,000 Americans have to say to us?

What does the inability to provide medical services, appropriate PPE, vaccines, tests, ventilators, etc., have to say to us?

What does the destruction of jobs, income, ability to pay rent or put food on the table, lack of insurance, inability to pay outstanding loans and mortgages, have to say to us?

What does the inability to get food supplies to markets, the lack of toilet paper and sanitizer products, the inability to pay for baby diapers, have to say to us?

Pandemic begets suffering, and we are suffering now—at least a lot of us are. And a lot more are going to be as the joblessness takes its toll.

The most blessed nation in the world—and we are suffering. And we do not like it. Not one bit.

But we are not the first. Think, for example, about poverty stricken Haiti, being wiped out by earthquake, followed by hurricanes, now followed by pandemic. After the hurricane, Pat Robertson said that Haiti cursed itself with a pact with the devil.

Well, good grief. Did we incur Hurricane Harvey because we made a pact with the devil? Did Houston suffer 29 inches of rain because the city made an agreement with Satan?

I think not. There are sinners everywhere—Texas AND Haiti “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” Paul writes.

Last time I looked, that included Pat Robertson!

And you know, hurricanes and earthquakes, tsunamis and tornados happen. They are part of God’s Creation, just like we are. Suffering is part of our world. It is the way we are. It is the nature of things—we are born, we live, and we die. There is suffering in that process, whether we are plant or animal.

Does that mean that God approves of suffering? That God made us to suffer? That God WANTS us to suffer? That God is laughing at us right now?

Hardly. God knows what it means to suffer. You know the story—Jesus Christ, the incarnation, hanging on the Cross and enduring pain that most of us shall never know (praise God!), and then dying—the real thing!

God knows what it means to suffer. God cared enough to suffer with us, in human form as Jesus Christ.

But God cares enough to suffer even beyond THAT. God suffers every time God’s once perfect Creation heaves and groans. God suffers every time any of us suffer!

Take the suffering of Jesus, and multiply it by every person who ever lived, every creature who ever breathed, every gorgeous mountain that ever crumbled, every wildfire that ever raged, and then try to understand the suffering of God.

It is a suffering that God is not required to bear, a suffering that God does not have to endure. But it is God’s will to do so.

Why? When God could wave a magic wand and say, “It isn’t so!” and suffering would be no more.

We wish we knew. Can there be ANY justification for the suffering of an innocent child, and the suffering of her mother and father?

“NO!” we cry out. “NEVER!”

Can there be ANY justification for the pandemic we are experiencing now?

NO!

We cannot know the why of God. It is a mystery beyond our ken, for we are only human. We cannot know the mind of God, and we certainly are NOT God ourselves. We are in no position to judge whether the suffering of anyone is possibly deserved, expect perhaps in the case of our own personal lives (even then, we “see in a glass darkly,” as Paul says).

And the Bible has no absolute answer for us. But the Bible does tell us this: God has walked this journey God’s self, in the form of Jesus Christ. God is with us in our suffering. God hears our prayers, and the prayers of our brethren and sisters in Haiti. God mourns our losses and grieves with us—then, now and always. And God promises us a new world on the other side of our suffering—a world where the hungry will be fed, and the thirsty will drink; where the lion will lay down with the lamb; where people will live together in peace, and suffering shall be no more.

Thanks be to God!

A Surfeit of Suffering

Main Street Dayton, TN

William Jennings Bryan

Still standing after all these storms.

PINS damage from Hurricane Hanna


PIPOA News by Marvin Jones, President

As always, let me have your thoughts. You can reach me at [email protected]

Board Meeting- The Board meeting was held on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Board members attending were Marvin Jones, Dan Brown, John Weis, Sandy Graves, Tommy Kurtz, and Nick Colosi attended by ZOOM. Marta Sprout did not attend the meeting.

The Board voted to censure Marta Sprout for her actions pertaining to alleged allegations of misconduct by a PIPOA Staff and an ACC volunteer. An investigation was conducted into alleged allegations reported by Marta Sprout to Executive Director, Jim Smock. Marta Sprout did not make the allegations, instead reported what 3 or 4 persons told her. However, she refused to provide the names of the complainants. Thus, the reputations of a PIPOA Staff member, Heather Cooley Coxe, and ACC volunteer, Robert Pruski, were tainted. Marta Sprout’s refusal to identify the complainants reduced Heather Cooley Coxe and Robert Pruski the opportunity to confront the accusers and clear their name. In addition, Ray Morais, Jr. sent an email to the Board requesting an investigation and alleging possible wrongdoing by the same persons employed by the PIPOA, including Jim Smock. During an interview Mr. Morais, Jr. he particularly alleged wrongdoing by Heather Cooley Coxe. However, he presented no credible evidence against anyone. Marvin Jones investigated the entire matter. Heather Cooley Coxe, Robert Pruski, and Jim Smock were found completely innocent of what turned out to be alleged allegations with absolutely no evidence to support a complaint. Frankly, this type of character smear cannot be tolerated in our community. My investigative report has been placed on the PIPOA website for those that may wish to read it. I am happy to speak with any member who wishes to discuss this matter. Send me an email to [email protected].

Full Transparency and Disclosure

Jim Smock-Executive Director- Jim Smock, spoke at length regarding the detrimental effects of Social Media. He stated the Fake News and Rumors put forth on Social Media destroy the Island community’s unity.

Board Votes- The Board voted to refund members who were fined for compliance violations over the last four years. This is the result of a legal opinion from the Board’s Attorney, Greg Cagle. According to Attorney Cagle, the covenants do no authorize the PIPOA to fine members. This opinion is completely opposite of the Board’s previous Attorney.

The Board voted to send billing statements to several owners that had not been billed for their CAM fees. These owners acquired their property from owners that claimed developer status. Thus, they had not been previously billed. This is going to get interesting.

The Board voted to oppose the ARCH (McFadden) initiative to amend the covenants of five subdivisions. The Board believes that these amendments would be detrimental to the overall mission of the PIPOA. Expect to hear and read more about this in the near future.

Canals- The canal clean up after Hanna has begun. Please report debris in the canals to the PIPOA office. Please call the office at 361-949-7025. A crew has been out cleaning up floating debris for two days. The debris can be dangerous to boats. If you see something, please make the call.

Hurricane Cleanup- There is no litter critter schedule at this time. The City of Corpus Christi operates litter Critter. There is no brush and debris pickup scheduled by the City at this time. We need the City’s help to clean up the island. I will be speaking with City officials in an attempt to get their assistance with an Island cleanup. Stay tuned for additional information.

Your Rights at RiskBy Marta Sprout

Editor’s note: We offered board member

Marta Sprout the opportunity to respond, here is her answer.

When I was elected to the PIPOA Board, I ran on the principles of listening to our Members, respecting their rights, and following the law.

Change has happened, but not as I had hoped. Several Members of this community confided in me that they had witnessed alleged wrongdoing. Our Policies allow for anonymously voicing concerns to a Board Member. These people refused to come forward for fear of retaliation.

I did not make any allegations. I only REPORTED Members’ concerns – without prejudice or malice - as is required in our Board Policy Manual. I specifically stipulated that both parties accused of wrongdoing MUST be treated fairly and that we needed a policy that prohibits gifts for favors. This could have been handled with care, dignity, and professionalism, but it was not.

The result was an orchestrated personal attack on me. Two Board Members conducted an “investigation” on their close friends, who were the accused, and found no wrongdoing. The final step was to take retribution on me for daring to report a problem and the attack intensified.

In the Board Meeting last night, the Board violated its own Policy Manual to retaliate

even though that is explicitly forbidden. The Members came back to me and stated that after seeing what was done to me for merely reporting a concern, they could clearly see that if they had stepped forward, they would have faced an even worse inquisition. They were right to harbor such fears.

The Board then voted to censor me for the rest of my term, even though they have no authority to do so. (This has been verified by three POA Attorneys.) This Board can vote to paint the Statue of Liberty purple, but that does not mean they have the authority to do so.

Their actions prove that this Board operates beyond their scope of authority as it did with levying fines and they disregard their own Bylaws, Policies, and governing documents.

This Culture of Retaliation sends a clear message to our community that the current leaderships sees itself as above the law to such an extreme that none of us dare even question them. Their latest plan is to spend your CAM Fees on a program to prevent you from changing YOUR own Covenants. That is a violation of your rights. This Board had no problem with allowing a developer, who owns two whole subdivisions, to alter their covenants, but they don’t want you to exercise your rights to do the same. If that is not favoritism, I don’t know what is.

What happened to Leadership that Listens? I’m listening and I will continue to stand up for the rights of our Members during each and every minute of my time on this Board.

Lone Star is practicing her 2nd position plie for her dance recital later this afternoon. Photo By Freda Greene.

Photo by Richard Anthony Gleason.Shelter from the storm. Pelican under public

restrooms near Bob Hall Pier. Photo by Paul Goodloe.

Good Advice & Where To Find It

Q. How can I find good advice for running my business?

A. There are 3 kinds of business advice. First are best industry practices. That includes how to produce your product or service along with competitive base line measurements like worker productivity and sales per square foot of sales space. That information is typically only available through your industry trade association. Each year association business members voluntarily submit their information in a standard format which the trade association keeps confidential. The association compiles the data and issues the measures in 5 quartiles from the best 20 percent to the worst 20 percent. The association will indicate which quartile your business falls in for each measure. That tells you how your business compares to the competition and what areas you need to work on to improve. Many associations also publish best industry practices for each task in the business. Those best practices are developed by standing committees of association members. Volunteer to serve on those committees. It is a great opportunity to learn the newest cutting-edge practices in your industry.

Second is advice about the business functions including marketing, advertising, accounting, taxes, insurance, financial management, human resources, safety, and training. Each of those functions are different. Seek advisors who are experts in that function with a lot of

hands on experience. Free advice is available from organizations like SCORE and SBDC. A lot of good information and advice is now available online at federal and state agency websites. Several large companies who sell goods and services to small businesses have websites that provide good information and advice to small business owners. Consultants are available on a fee basis, however select the consultant carefully to insure they are really experts in that function. Good consultants can be an asset. Poor ones are worthless. You do not have the time or probably the capability to become expert in all the business functions. Your time should be spent producing the product or service and running the business.

The third kind of business advice is business wisdom. It is the most valuable of all. Wisdom is things like knowing when in the business cycle to expand and take risks and when to hunker down, conserve cash and prepare to survive hard times. You will not find wisdom from consultants. In seeking advice, the trick is knowing how to choose the advisor whether it be a volunteer mentor or a consultant. Your bank loan officer, accountant, and business attorney are potential good sources. Pick a person with a lot of successful experience preferably in your industry. They should have good judgment and no conflicts of interest. If your advisor is a volunteer mentor, always express your appreciation for the time and work they spend helping you. That is the only payback they expect.

By Ralph Coker

Ask Ralph

Port Aransas Aftermath of Hanna

Photos by Steve Coons.

“In Pee Wee [Reese] they got a better player, but lesser announcer [than himself],” Blattner said. Dean called the first four innings. Reese asked what the pitcher threw. Diz: “I believe that’s a baseball.” Dean scored Washington’s syntax. “Are those jokers putting’ a tax on that, too?” At one time or another time he sang “Precious Memories,” ate a watermelon on play-by-play, and said of a hitter, “He’s standing confidentially at the plate.” Another week he fell asleep. Pee Wee requested a closeup. “Pod-nuh,” he said, nudging Diz, “am I keeping you awake?” The two ex-jocks coursed through Idlewild Airport. Suddenly Dean, in Western boots and Stetson, yelled, “Hey, Pee Wee.” Yeah.” “How come you played here for 18 years and nobody knows you?

Everybody knows Ol’ Diz.”

Reese laughed. “If I had that hat on, everybody’d know me, too.” Later he ribbed the old pitcher in Dean’s room. “Dizzy Dean, high hard fastball. I wish I’d had a chance to hit your ****.” In pajamas, Diz started winding. “You might have hit it, pod-nuh, but you’d be on your ***.”

By 1964, they worked at Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, St. Louis, Philly, and Baltimore. New York got $550,000 of CBS’ $895,00. (Six NBC clubs got $1.2 million.) “In ’53, no one wanted us,” said Scherick. “Now teams begged for ‘Game’’s cash.” The NFL began a $14.1 million revenue-sharing pact. Turning green, baseball ended its big-city blackout, got $6.5 million for 1965 exclusivity, and split the pot. “A mint,” said MacPhail, “so they thought.”

ABC began mere 28-game Saturday/holiday coverage. Ratings tanked: Tigers-Twins left, say, Boston cold. Meanwhile, CBS aired a 21-game Yankees slate. In 1966, the Bombers joined NBC’s package: 28 v. 1960’s three-network 123. Soon Dean denoted an age so far removed that it was hard to recall it existed. It did.

For many of Diz’ young fans, Saturdays started with grass stains, grounders, and broken windows. Pickup games preceded late-morning TV: Sky King, Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans. Next: lunch, Cliff Arquette as Charlie Weaver, Dennis James’ TV newsreel, ‘toons culled from forgotten files. “Game” began at 2. Sunday wed the morning paper, church, and short walk home. Watching, we were “pod-nuh” — still are.

In 1967-68 Ole’ Diz did the Braves TV, fished, hunted, and wondered at the pastime’s mind. An Alabamian wrote to The Sporting News: “We simple people really miss Dizzy Dean. He added life to the game … hours of clean, wholesome fun. Baseball has always been for ordinary folks like me. Please bring Ol’ Diz back.” Astute and self-aware, Dean might have laughed — except

that, enlarged in exile, he missed “Game,” too.

Where did Dean live? Curt Gowdy asked. “Why, in Bond, Mississippi.” Where was Bond? Curt said. “Oh,” said Diz, “‘bout three miles from Wiggins.” Where was Wiggins? “Oh, ‘bout three miles from Bond.” Diz died, at 63, July 17, 1974, of a heart attack, the fox taken as a buffoon who winds up taking the taker. “Podnuh,” he often said, “you ain’t just a’ woofin’.” Middle America ain’t a’ woofin.’ As a broadcaster, Dean deserves the Ford C. Award.

Dotson’s Other Note: The Frick Award election cycle rotates annually among Current Major League Markets (team-specific announcers); National Voices (broadcasters whose contributions were realized on a national level); and Broadcasting Beginnings (early team voices and pioneers of baseball broadcasting). This cycle repeats every three years, with the National Voices ballot being reviewed this fall (2020), and the *Broadcasting Beginnings ballot to be reviewed in the fall of 2021. As established by the Board of Directors, criteria for selection is a follows: “Commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers. It’s up to you Moon Monkeys to bug the committee from now to September 2021 to insure that Ole’ Diz gets the nomination he deserves. Here is where you start: https://baseballhall.org/support-the-hall Comments/calls/texts are welcome. Email: [email protected] Mobile: 530-748-8475

*Fall of 2021

-30- Have fun and hang in there!


SPORTS

Dizzy Dean: Easily Best Broadcast Choice Part II

By Dotson Lewis

Sports Talk Special to The Island Moon

Is Anyone Sitting Here?It was a Saturday afternoon in June of

2002, when I arrived at Minute Maid Park in downtown Houston, Texas, home of the Houston Astros. I had two weekend season tickets in the last row behind home plate. On this particular day, I was alone and a fellow dressed in a suit and tie approached me and asked, “Is anyone sitting here?” “No,” I said, “Have a seat.” He was over six feet tall, slender, wore glasses and had gray hair. You don’t see very many people in coats and ties at a baseball game. Over the years I had sat close by many different scouts and former players from other teams and once met President George Herbert Bush and his wife Barbara, along with Astros’ owner, Drayton McLain.

My new friend asked if I knew a lot about baseball. I said “I think so.” Then he said, “I see you like to keep score,” and I nodded, yes. “Do you know who holds the record for grand slams?” he asked. I said, “Yes, it’s Lou Gehrig with 23.” “No,” he said, “I mean for the Astros. Who holds the record for grand slams for the Astros?” I did not know but was willing to guess. I offered Glenn Davis, Jeff Bagwell, Jimmy Wynn, Jose Cruz, and Rusty Staub as he shook his head side to side, and then I said, “I don’t know, who was it?” He said, “It’s me.” Now I’m embarrassed, especially since I’d had a radio sports talk show for about ten years at the time and really do spend a lot of time on baseball. So, I said, “And who are you?” He grinned like a catfish, stuck out his hand and said, “I’m Bob Aspromonte.”

I remembered the name and shook his hand while he snickered at me. I knew a bit about his background and asked him to autograph my program. He was actually with his brother Ken, who had played professionally for six different clubs before becoming the Manager of the Cleveland Indians. They both had seats down in front of me. I remembered a story I had heard years ago about Bob and a kid who was blind. I asked him to tell me the tale.

Colt 45’s

Bob Aspromonte signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957 at the age of 18. He was from Brooklyn, New York, and went to high school with pitcher Sandy Koufax. He played third base for the Colt 45’s from 1962-1968 and became one of Houston’s first baseball stars. He set the National League record for errorless games with 57 at third base. Bob hit 60 home runs during his thirteen-year career and, in 1971, he became the last of the original Brooklyn Dodgers to retire.

In 1962, a nine-year-old kid named Billy Bradley, living in Arkansas, was struck by lightning and blinded while playing on a baseball diamond. He was moved to Methodist Hospital in Houston for eye surgery and listened to the Colt 45’s games on the radio. His favorite

player in baseball was Houston’s Bob Aspromonte. Billy’s dad called the Colt 45’s and asked to meet with Aspromonte. Bob was told what Billy had said and decided to visit Billy in the hospital. Bob took Billy Bradley a signed ball and a glove. Billy was blindfolded and could not see anything, including Bob. Shades of Babe Ruth, Billy Bradley asked Bob to hit a home run for him in his next game.

Once the press caught wind of the request, added pressure was applied in interview after interview. As fate would have it, in Bob Aspromonte’s last at-bat with Billy Bradley listening to the game on the radio in the hospital, Bob hit a home run. Houston announcer Bob Elston screamed, “This one is for you, Billy Bradley.”

Interestingly, the following year, after several more surgeries, Aspromonte visited little Billy one more time in the hospital and again Billy asked Bob to hit him a home run. Bob Aspromonte delivered this time with a grand slam. Luckily for Bob, Billy eventually regained part of his sight, but this is not the end of the story.

On July 26, 1963, after receiving partial sight from further surgery, little Billy Bradley attended his first Houston Colt 45’s baseball game. He had asked Bob Aspromonte to hit him another home run. Billy was finally going to see his hero play in person. “When he asked again, I said, ‘Billy you’re really pushing your luck. Will you settle for two base hits?’” said Bob. In the first inning Bob came to the plate with the bases loaded against the New York Mets. Pitching for the Mets was Tracy Stallard, the same guy who had given up Roger Maris’s 61st home run in 1961, to break Babe Ruth’s single season home-run record. Apsromonte hit another grand slam over the left field wall and the place went crazy. Bob was crying, Billy was crying. The fans were crying. The game was stopped so Billy could come down on the field where the two embraced. Bob gave Billy the baseball. All was right in the world, or was it?

There is still more to this story. In 1974, during a freak accident, Bob Aspromonte was blinded when a car battery blew up in his face. The same surgeon who had restored Billy Bradley’s vision performed surgery on Bob Aspromonte. The surgery gave Bob back about 40% of his sight, but required him to wear glasses. Bob Aspromonte hit a team record six grand slams during his career for the Houston Astros and became a successful Budweiser Distributor and Billy Bradley became an executive with Merrill Lynch Insurance Company in Memphis, Tennessee. They still visit with each other quite often.

So, that’s the story of how I met Bob Aspromonte.

Andy Purvis is a local author and radio personality. Please visit www.purvisbooks.com for all the latest info on his books or to listen to the new radio podcast. Andy’s books are available online and can be found in the local Barnes & Noble bookstore. Andy can be contacted at [email protected]. Also listen to sports talk radio on Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session from 6-8 PM on Sportsradiocc.com 1230 AM, 95.1 and 96.1 FM. The home of the Houston Astros.

Dotson’s Note: Lago agrees, we are on a mission! Our goal is to get Dizzy Dean nominated and selected for the MLB Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick Award. Thanks to Bill Morgan (former SWC SID), Edgar Scherick and Ron Powers for the facts contained in this report and to Bill Morgan for the photos.

As a reminder, we ended Part I quoting Diz “That’s enough a’ that poop. Now Ol’Diz is gonna make money. I’m going to butcher this today.” Forseeing what he would say and when. What follows is only a smattern’ more of ole’ Diz’s qualifications for that award.

Statingting in early 1953, Edgar Scherick was a bit ABC-TV aide — “a nothing network, fewer outlets than CBS or NBC.” Upside: It needed paid programming — “anything for bills.” Falstaff pined to go national. Edgar broached a Saturday “Game of the Week.”

ABC hesitated. Baseball was a regular-season local good. How would “Game” reach TV? Who would notice if it did?

“Football fans watch regardless of team,” said Scherick. By contrast, Phils-Cubs needed a Voice surpassing team: “straight out of James Fenimore Cooper by way of Uncle Remus,” wrote Ron Powers — Diz. In April, Edgar set out to sell teams rights: “‘Game of the Week.’ I expected a breeze.” Instead, he hit a gale. Only the A’s, Tribe, and White Sox signed. Worse, baseball barred “Game” within 50 miles of any bigs park. “‘Protect local coverage!’ They didn’t care about national appeal.”

ABC, which did, grasped that “most of America was still up for grabs.” In many cities ABC was weak or nil. Unvexed, “Game” wooed an 11.4 1953 rating (one point: 1 percent of TV homes). Blacked-out cities had 32 percent of households. In the rest, 3 in 4 sets in use watched Diz. Had “Game” sunk, said MacPhail, “maybe sports TV has a different future.” Instead, by 1955 its road led to the Network of the Eye pitched on floating clouds.

“CBS stakes were higher,” said Buddy Blattner, leaving Mutual to rejoin Dean. “They wanted someone who’d known Diz, could bring him out”: becoming “a mythologizing presence,” wrote Powers. MacPhail mused: “The reaction was stunning.” In Hollywood, Clark Gable golfed each Saturday. “Clark’d play nine holes,” said Buddy, “watch us in the saloon, then play nine more.”

CBS added a Sunday “Game” in 1957. Outlets cheered in Phoenix, Little Rock, and Cedar Rapids. Dean cracked the Gallup Poll’s 10 most-admired list. CBS offered a prime-time series.

Dean refused to air a Falstaff ad — because the date was Mother’s Day. United Airlines backed “Game.” Hating to fly, Diz said, “If you have to, pod-nuh, Eastern is much the best.” In 1958, he made MacPhail’s gray hair white. “I don’t know we come off callin’ this the ‘Game of the Week.’ There’s a much better game — Dodgers-Giants — over on NBC.”

In 1959, Buddy resigned amid discord with Diz. His partner became a retired Dodgers shortstop.

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Bob Aspromonte

Diz Singing Wabash Cannon Ball On He Haw.

Diz on Time Cover.

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PINS damage.

The berm before the storm. Photo by Richard Anthony Gleason.

Hanna: the Storm That Was

Big swells continued to come in Packery the day after the storm.

PINS damage from Hanna.

Bob Hall Pier after the storm. Above two photos by Jacob Augs.

Skeletal remains. Photo by Jan Rankin

Storms don't stop surfers! Photo by Jan RankinConscientious locals rushed to help clean area beaches. Photos by Debbie NobleBob Hall Pier. Photo by Debbie Noble.


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heard a loud WHOOP! I was locked in, but had dropped in on one of the best and meanest surfers on the beach!

John Jones was about as aggressive as they come, and lived to fight. He was screaming and I was paddling back out and down the beach. When I finally came in, I had to walk right by the group of surfers, the smell of Coppertone, beer and weed warned me of the band of angry natives. John came right out of the pack with F-bombs out. “You dinged my board you kook!” I apologized a few times, but when he pushed my board and it hit the sand I got right in his face. I was going to do my best to bite scratch and inflict any damage I could against the War Lord.

Just a second before my death Kevin Jones was laughing, and yelled to John not to be beating up the children! In a few seconds, I was brought into the group of 20 something year old surfers as a Grom. Those guys and myself are all still surfing today, especially every time those waves

lap the bottom of Bob Hall Pier.

Seeing the destruction of the parking lot and pier this week hurt me to the bone. So many memories there -- me my kids, surf contests, nights upon nights fishing. I looked across the broken pavement and watched a cheesy weatherman cashing in on our heartbreak. So many from so far have spent some of their best seconds here. Many of their first trips as kids without a worry in the world, and some of us there with too many problems to manage just working them out on the picnic benches. Then there were plenty of folks spending their last breaths looking into the sea breeze finding peace with the life and world behind us.

We all need to make sure that the pier is brought back to life, it’s our biggest attraction here on North Padre Island.

Fishing is still on fire! Go get wet!

Follow all our hookups on Facebook at Joey Farahs Backwater Fishing.

July 30, 2020 Island Moon A11

The Island OutdoorsBackwater AdventuresBy Joey FarahFarah’s Fishing Adventures

When the big rains come living on a sand bar is nice. Rain doesn’t hurt us here, but the tidal surge of our mother ocean has unimaginable power. This week we were all front row on national news with the attack of Hanna. Some graphic shots of just a few damaged areas made for good television. Overall, our Island was spared, but the fishing cabins down in Baffin Bay and the Land Cut did not do well. We will all have to deal with the large amount of scattered debris. Cleanup? How do we find it all, and whose is it? One of the biggest concerns is the large cement columns and rebar that is undoubtably scattered across the ocean bottom near Bob Hall Pier. Surfing and swimming there could be very dangerous -- and that’s from a local surfer that has surfed the pier for 40yrs.

Late July was abuzz with locusts in the trees as we slipped out of the canals of my childhood home in the Bluff. The glassy surface was cut by the three kids in the 14ft jon boat, purple haze blanketed the water reflecting the sky. Reds shot out from their beds, but we didn’t break from the throttle. We beached the boat on the back side of the Island in our then-secret cove and anchored the boat. With surfboards in hand, we started our trek through the dunes and eventually to the then-undeveloped Sea Pines Street. A short jump over the road and we were doing dawn patrol on the barreling waves of Bob Hall. At 13, we had the freedom of unsupervised recklessness, beach and bay. This particular day, I remember the swells were clean and green, smacking the underneath of the Pier. That would make them about 8-10ft waves.

Our days at the pier were Epic. The old bathhouse stood in the mouth of the pier and rented tubes and had showers. You could hear the screams and laughter echoing through the slatted walls. The burger hut had a big sign 3-for-$5 and we would have not survived without it.

To go up on the pier we had to hide our surfboards and make sure our shirts were dry. The pier folks hated surfers.

Sometimes we would bring our poles and chunk spoons off the T of the pier for Spanish mackerel. We would tell our parents we were camping on islands and stay in a tent tucked way up under the pier. Walking the beach, looking into the windows of cars for love birds, night surfing in front of the Holiday Inn and Bob Hall!

The parking lot at Bob’s was ran far from the way it was this summer. This was the heaviest break on the coast! Sweeps cracked against a hard sand bottom back then. Kooks got run off or run over. I remember the older guys had the peak and every time a set rolled through, I’d have to pull off. The shark fishermen’s lines twinkled in the sun as a big set rolled in like mountains. I paddled hard and felt the ocean pick me up and throw me down into the curl of the wave. As I planted my bottom turn, I

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As soon as the storm was over, Tyler and Augs and I were

anxious to get out and look around. Hanna came in from primarily the northeast, and I had some preconceived notions about what and where the damage would be. We started our “pandemic post-apocalyptic” tour under the JFK, which fared pretty well. The retaining wall at the Billings ramp lost the cap, but I’m thinking that it could be screwed right back on. The water came up over the roads, under the bridge, and

then funneled off into the flats towards Marker 37. There was some erosion next to the road, but a load of dirt will take care of that.

We then made our way out to Packery. I mean, not quite to Packery, but that direction. We had to get creative in accessing the beach and jetties (more on that in a bit). Augs has his FAA license and is legally allowed to fly his drone around. He took off and we were able to see the jetties from a fantastic view. The channel looked pretty good, although there is a sand plug at the end of the jetties, which is to be expected with the storm. It is a hazard right now, but hopefully with the ebbing tides, it will even out and at least make a cut on the north side as usual. The rest of the channel seems to have done fairly well, although there were some cap stones that were moved around on the north jetty, and there is a bit of sand that washed over into the channel. Just like Ike. And speaking of Ike, the Ike repairs that also survived Harvey survived Hanna. It is going to be something to think about as we move forward.

Dunes

Ok, so we lost a ton of beach. More importantly, we lost a bunch of dunes. The dune line moved landward somewhere around 60 feet, and the mile markers on the beach tell the tale in stark reality. Yes, the beach is nice and flat, but that used to be dunes that protected us. I’m hoping that the City will leave the mile markers where

they are at as a reminder to us all. As nature dictates, the sand from the dunes is primarily in the bars and guts along the beach, and as the tides drop out over the next month, the beach will dry out, and the sand will blow up one grain at a time back where it came from. The railroad vines will grow back down and start the stabilization process just as it has for thousands of years. But it will take time.

Bob Hall Pier

We then went around Bob Hall, but you all have seen that footage and know that story. My next bit here isn’t going to be popular, but it’s going to be the truth. Regarding Bob Haul pier, yes, the concrete deck pieces were designed to be able to be removed in the event of a storm. Now, “designed”, and “practical” are two different terms as you logical loyal readers will remember. “Designed” to be removed doesn’t mean that it’s easy and they can just be plucked up and stacked in a corner. It’s a very daunting task, and working 40 hour days, it would actually take

a crew five days to remove all those tiles. The County didn’t have five days. No one had five days. Hanna blew up overnight and it was scramble time. Save your daggers and arrows for someone/entity that deserves it.

We really appreciate the attention that the Island and Gulf beaches have been getting during the recent pandemic. I’ve seen a lot of complaining on social media lately about beach management during the recent storm, but complaining doesn’t cut the mustard. I also know that there are alternatives to closing the beach down to everyone. I’ll have to write about that one next week, there’s not enough time here.

Turtles

One last thing, and I’ll keep it simple, but if there was ever a question regarding the science behind the turtle program, it was just definitively and decidedly answered. If the turtle nests were required to be left on the beach in corrals, they would have all been lost due to Hanna. I hope the folks in D.C. catch on to that. ‘Nuff said, and Go Donna.

Well folks, as Billy Sandifer would say, it’s time to suit up, show up, and get it done. Help your neighbors out in the clean up effort, stay safe, drop me a line at [email protected] and I’ll see you next week On the Rocks.

Two days after the storm we pulled these two Bigs, 24.5 and 27” trout from Corpus

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Lyne Cope took some friends out the day before the hurricane and laid some

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Beach-goers moved cones which were meant to prevent beach access.

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July 30, 2020

Incident at Stripes

On Wednesday July 29th at approximately 6:30 am, Officers were dispatched to the 15000 Block of South Padre Island Drive for a disturbance. Prior to the officers responding they were advised that a shot was heard, there was a male sitting in a white vehicle, and he was armed with a handgun.

When the officers arrived, they found the vehicle parked in a convenience store parking lot, the door open, and a male passed out in the seat. The responding officers were able to secure the handgun from the male prior to him awakening.

The offender, a 40-year-old Male, was transported to the hospital due to injuries sustained prior to officers contacting him. This is an ongoing investigation.

Crash

12500 block SPID 3 p.m. July 23

Aquarius/SPID 1 p.m. July 24


SPID/Aquarius 2 p.m. July 23

SPID/Whitecap Noon July 23

14900 block SPID 11 a.m. July 22


SPID/Whitecap 10 a.m. July 22


Whitecap Dr./Whitecap Blvd. 9 p.m. July 23

SPID/Whitecap Noon July 23

14900 SPID 11 a.m. July 22

SPD/Whitecap 10 a.m. July 22

SH 361/Fish Pass 9 p.m. July 22 DWI

SH 361 Mustang Island Estates Dr. 7 p.m. July 24 DWI

Cruiser/Las Tunas 4 a.m. July 28

SH 361/Beach Access 3 p.m. July 28 Parking Violation

Theft

13800 block Doubloon 8 a.m. July 27 Theft of Service

15100 block Leeward 11 p.m. July 25 $750-$2500

15900 block SPID 6 p.m. July 23 Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle

15100 block Leeward 11 p.m. July 25

15600 block Cruiser 11 a.m. July 28 Theft of Services

Disturbance

14200 block Jackfish 7 p.m.


15600 block Cruiser 11 p.m. July 26

6800 block SH 361 Noon July 24

15200 Windward Noon July 28

Noise Ordinance Violation

13800 block Eaglesnest Bay 11 p.m. July 24

Suspicious Person

14300 block SPID Midnight July 26


14400 block Commodores 2 a.m. July 25


15200 block Windward 9 p.m. July 25

Windward/Whitecap 9 p.m. July 23

15000 block Reales 8 a.m. July 23


15800 block SPID 11 July 27

Ports O Call/Fortuna Bay 10 p.m. July 25

Coquina Bay/Soto Dr. 10 p.m. Jul25


Whitecap/Bonasse 7 a.m. July 24

15600 block Three Fathoms 5 a.m. July 23



Beach Access Road 3/SH 361 1 a.m. July 25

Windward/Leeward Noon July 28

Assault

13300 block SPID 3 p.m. July 24 Physical Altercation


14800 block Lighthouse 1 a.m. July 27 (three counts)

14800 block Compass 1 a.m. July 24

1550 block Escapade 11 p.m. July 25 Shots fired

15200 block Leeward 2 p.m. July 27 Harassment

Burglary

13600 block Jolly Roger 8 p.m. July 23


13800 block Jolly Roger 8 p.m. July 23

Fire

15700 block Dyna Noon July 26 Building Fire

15300 block Cruiser 3 a.m. July 28 Building Fire

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By Todd Hunter, District 32

Flood Preparedness & Safety Tips

Earlier this summer, I shared important information on how to

prepare in case of a hurricane. I would like to revisit that topic in relation to another type of weather emergency with the potential to affect residents of the Coastal Bend: flooding. Given our community’s proximity to the Texas coast, many residents may already be aware that flooding can occur near the water or in other low-lying areas. However, as illustrated by the recent flood events, flooding is a possibility even in those areas not typically at risk for this type of weather disaster. With this in mind, I would like to share some of the necessary steps you can take to ensure your family is safe and prepared in case of a flood.

One of the most important ways to prepare for a weather emergency is by developing a family disaster response plan. This can be accomplished by first identifying specific flood risk factors such as geographical location, the structure in which you reside, and personal circumstances such as medical conditions. Another important component of this disaster response plan is identifying evacuation strategies in order to prevent confusion and injury in times of emergency.

In addition to a comprehensive family disaster response plan, another key way to prepare for a flood is by creating a disaster response kit that includes items such as flashlights, batteries, telephones, radios and sufficient tools in case of an emergency.

Other important items to consider are blankets, pillows, seasonal clothing and special items for infants and the elderly. Be sure to also include first aid supplies as well as medicines and prescription drugs. Along with various necessities, this kit should include copies of personal documents such as insurance information, birth certificates, and family and emergency contact information. The American Red Cross also recommends having a three-day supply of nonperishable food and water on hand in case of a flood.

Protecting your home, car, and other personal property should also include ensuring you have the right insurance coverage in case of a weather event such as flooding. The National Flood Insurance is a pre-disaster flood program designed to reduce flood disasters. There is typically a 30-day waiting period for most insurance policies to go into effect, which is why it is essential to have the right coverage in place before a weather emergency occurs. You can learn more about the National Flood Insurance program at https://www.floodsmart.gov .

In the event of inclement weather, those living in areas susceptible to flooding should pay close

attention to local emergency alerts and weather advisories issued by the National Weather Service. These alerts and advisories are helpful in determining the risk of flooding in your area and what, if any, action you should take. Typically, there are four key terms used that help to indicate your risk level:

• Flood Advisory: A Flood Advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, it may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.

• Flood Watch: A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a specific hazardous weather event to occur. A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.

• Flood Warning: A Flood Warning is issued when the hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

• Flash Flood Warning: A Flash Flood Warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood prone area move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.

When flooding occurs in your area, it is important to remember to always avoid walking or driving through floodwaters when possible. It only takes six inches of moving water to affect the ability to walk and two feet of water to sweep a vehicle away. Information regarding evacuation routes and travel safety during a storm is available by visiting https://drivetexas.org/. For more information please related to floods, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods, https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood, and

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32

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County and City Access to Beaches After Hurricane Hanna

Editor’s note: This statement was issued by the City of Corpus Christi on Tuesday.

Due to Hurricane Hanna damage and cleanup efforts, along with the closure of vehicular access to Gulf Beaches which was ordered on July 15, 2020, Nueces County and the City of Corpus Christi will continue to temporarily restrict vehicular access to Bay and Gulf Beaches within Nueces County through Saturday, August 1, 2020, at 6:00 AM. The vehicular restrictions include golf carts and all-terrain vehicles.

GULF BEACHES

Lifeguards will be patrolling all areas of City/County beaches.

Effective Tuesday, July 28, 2020:

• Windward Parking Lot (Seawall) will be open to vehicle and pedestrian foot traffic but all COVID-19 rules are in effect until August 1, 2020, at 6:00 AM. Beach Operations will continue to clean the beach and remove debris as it accumulates. Access Road 3A will remain closed to vehicular traffic.

• Packery Channel Parking Lot will be open to allow fishermen and surfers pedestrian access to the Jetty.

• Whitecap Blvd. will remain closed to all pedestrians in order to complete necessary maintenance resulting from Hurricane Hannah.

Effective Wednesday, July 29, 2020:

• Whitecap Boulevard will be open to pedestrian foot traffic, but all COVID-19 rules are in

effect until August 1, 2020, at 6:00 AM. Beach Operations will continue to clean the beach and remove debris as it accumulates. Whitecap Blvd. will remain closed to vehicular traffic.

Zahn Road, Newport Pass Road, Access Road No 3, and Access Road No 2 beach accesses will remain closed to vehicular access until further notice. Beaches will be accessible to pedestrian foot traffic; however sections of the beaches may be closed due to maintenance and heavy machinery use.

BAY BEACHES

North Beach and McGee Beach will reopen for pedestrian foot traffic on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

NORTH BEACH

Sand from the beach that was displaced onto the road is being stockpiled by City crews at the parking lot along N. Shoreline Blvd. between Bridgeport Ave. and Coastal Ave. while Parks and Recreation works with the Texas General Land Office regarding placing the sand back onto the beach. The beach is open to pedestrian foot traffic, but all COVID-19 rules are in effect until August 1, 2020, at 6:00 AM. Beach visitors should be cautious of City crews working along the beach boardwalk, sidewalks, and areas along the beach.

McGEE BEACH

Open to foot traffic on July 28, 2020, but all COVID-19 rules are in effect until August 1, 2020, at 6:00 AM. Lifeguards will be provided via mobile unit. Parks and Recreation will continue to clean the beach and remove debris as it accumulates.

Seawall on the Island after Hanna. Photo by Dale Rankin.

South Packery Channel after Hanna.

New Ferry Stacking Lanes Open in Port

AransasAccess to stacking lanes will be from

northbound Cut-off Road only

The Texas Department of Transportation is scheduled to open the new stacking lanes facility for its ferry operations in Port Aransas at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 30.

The opening of the facility in Port Aransas is a major feature of a $9 million TxDOT project to construct stacking lanes and make other improvements at the ferry landings. Stacking lanes are dedicated areas for vehicles waiting to board the ferries. The goal of the project is to move vehicles waiting for the ferries off city streets and Cut-off Road.

Opening of the stacking lanes will result in significant changes in the traffic pattern for motorists:

• Access to the stacking lanes will be from northbound Cut-off Roadonly. Motorists will have a protected left turn to Port Street and then take an immediate right into the stacking lanes. Traffic directors will direct motorists to the proper waiting lane.

• There will be no access to the ferries from Cotter Avenue.

• There will be no access to the stacking lanes from southbound Cut-off Road, Avenue A or Port Street.

• Traffic exiting the ferries will continue to travel to the Cut-off Road /Cotter intersection.

Nueces County Appraisal Review

Board Needs Members

The Nueces County Appraisal Review Board (ARB) is seeking applications from residents that have lived in Nueces County for the past two years and would like the opportunity to resolve disputes with property appraisals in Nueces County. This is part time seasonal contract labor with training. Persons selected will start January 2021.

Application must be submitted by August 28, 2020 and is available on line at the Nueces County Appraisal District website under Organization/Appraisal Review Board / Appraisal Review Board Application or at the District offices at 201 North Chaparral. A legible copy of the applicant’s driver license or Texas identification card is required. The application can be turned in as described on the application or to the Taxpayer Liaison Officer at Nueces County Appraisal District. Contact the Appraisal District Taxpayer Liaison Officer at 361 696-7683 for questions and/or information on the ARB work schedule during COVID-19.

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Bob Hall Pier after Hurricane Hanna removed the T-Head. Photo by Laurie Lyng.

City Of Corpus Christi to Conduct Brush And Debris

Collection Post Hurricane Hanna

As part of the city’s Hurricane Hanna Response Plan, the City of Corpus Christi’s Solid Waste Department requests residents begin placing their brush and debris curb-side. There will be no citations or fines assessed during this Hurricane response period. The city-wide removal of debris will begin Monday, August 3, and continue until complete which is estimated to be no more than three weeks.

Residents should separate their brush and debris into two piles. One for clean brush which includes trees, limbs, palm fronds and other brush. This debris will be turned into mulch at the J.C. Elliott Transfer Station. The second pile will be for wooden planks, fencing, roof shingles or other such debris caused by Hurricane Hanna. Please make sure the brush and debris piles do not block sidewalks, thru-ways or drainage ditches. For more information, you may contact Solid Waste Services Senior Public Information Officer Amy Gazin at 361-826-1655 or by email at [email protected].

Texas Sales Tax Holiday Is August 7-9

With the Texas economy slowly awakening from effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Comptroller Glenn Hegar reminds shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 7-9.

The law exempts sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The date of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature.

• Apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax-free are listed on the Comptroller’s website at TexasTaxHoliday.org.

To promote social distancing, the Comptroller’s office wants all taxpayers to know that during the annual sales tax holiday, qualifying items can be purchased online or by telephone, mail, custom order or any other means (including in-store purchases) tax free, when either:

• the item is both delivered to, and paid for by, the customer during the exemption period; or

• the customer orders and pays for the item, and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period ends.

Texas’ sales tax holiday weekend has been an annual event since 1999, allowing Texans to save millions of dollars in state and local sales taxes each year. Uncertainty surrounding consumer activity in the retail sector coupled with a lack of clarity regarding the timing and nature of schools reopening prevents the agency from producing an estimate for dollars saved by taxpayers during this year’s holiday. Last year’s holiday generated an estimated $102.2 million in savings for Texas taxpayers.

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Nature Notes

Mexican EaglesBack to School During COVIDBy Emily Gaines | PR Coordinator for BBB serving the Heart of Texas


By Susan Heath

Have you seen a Mexican Eagle? If you live along

the Texas coast chances are you have, even if you didn’t realize it. “Mexican Eagle” is a colloquial name for the Crested Caracara, which is a common bird along the coast and the south Texas brush country. They are less common in oaks and prairies area of the state, and not present at all in the west or panhandle. Their range is mostly in Mexico and Central America so we are lucky to have them here in Texas. The only other U.S. states with caracaras are Arizona and Florida.

Caracaras look like hawks with a sharp bill and talons but they behave more like a vulture by feasting on carrion. In fact, they are actually a tropical falcon as their range implies. Although they are most easily seen eating roadkill with vultures, they will also take live prey. They are quite omnivorous in their diet and will wade in shallow water to catch fish, dig up turtle eggs with their strong feet, or follow farm tractors catching escaping animals. Often they fall back on following vultures to carcasses. They can’t open up a carcass by themselves though and

must wait for a vulture or other raptor to do that for them.

The Caracara’s body and wings are black but they are easy to recognize with a black cap and orange face set off by a white neck. Their legs are orange too and they are quite a handsome bird if you take the time to notice. They often perch on power poles or tree tops and that’s the easiest place to find them.

Adult pairs will stay together for years and sometimes defend their territory year-round. They nest during the winter mostly in trees and weave their nests of twigs and leaves. They are the only falcon that collects material to build their own nest and will reuse a nest, refurbishing it each time resulting in a quite large nest. Other falcons use an old nest from another species or simply lay their eggs in appropriate habitat. Caracaras lay one to four eggs and both male and female incubate them for about 30 days. The chicks are covered with down when they hatch and it takes seven to eight weeks before they can fly.

Although breeding adults don’t show much social behavior with other adults, family groups sometimes stay together for months. The young birds are brown and are easy to recognize as such when they are with adults. The young birds typically leave their parents around six months of age and join other immature birds and non-breeding adults that can form large flocks. This gives them a competitive advantage over vultures when a carcass is found and also provides them social learning experiences. Perhaps they even find a mate in these large communal flocks which forage and roost together. Once a pair bond is established though, the young couple moves off on their own to establish their territory.

Crested Caracaras are a special bird in the Texas avifauna. There’s really no other bird like them in the U.S. and their antics can be quite fun to watch. I’ve seen a single caracara fending off a whole flock of vultures at deer carcass. That’s one tough bird!

The Barnacle LineBy Del Smith

Well summer has finally arrived, and with it has brought thoughts and dreams of boat

bottoms, bilge’s and balmy breezes on the ocean blue. Which translates as another week spent in a hot dusty boatyard getting super fine particles of green stuff, (or whatever the color of that boat bottom that is towering above you, propped up on stands), into every orifice and pore of your body. Regardless of all of the goggles, masks, suits and other sweat producing protective gear you can wear, the crud still gets there. --Transporter like. –--- Am going to have to talk to Scotty about all of this indiscriminate beaming. He has got to start running more background checks. Control. WE-GOT-TO-HAVE-MORE-CONTROL.

All that this torturous equipment does, is filter out the BIG pieces, from you. The boat is just plain defenseless, and all that stuff can and will get into every corner and cranny, along with a nook our two, of the boat. Months later you are still digging pieces of green, or red, or black, or blue (or whatever), out of both you and the boat.

Gee, aren’t we having fun now!

But this demented time spent in and around this hellish territory is an inevitable part of owning a sturdy and true vessel to ply the ocean-sea. A craft that takes you to palm shaded, sandy beaches, lurking back there in the recesses of your mind.

Of course, you could say, “Tah’llwid’t”, and just let the stuff grow on the bottom. Understanding that the performance of the boat is going to be so bad that you won’t want to take it away from the slip. But, HEY!, you can still sit on it, there in the slip, and dream your dreams of islands and dark blue seas. Maybe someone will come by with a wake. A little motion to reinforce your dreaming. Well, that motion for a little while, until the inevitable happens and that mini reef / oyster bed grows the boat on the bottom.

Now, I suppose we could take this low maintenance theme a bit farther and just doesn’t

do anything for the boat. Just think, soon you could have your very own mini palm growing just right over there along the gunnel, where the sand and dirt has accumulated. Possibly, enough sand might build up in the cockpit for your very own mini beach. All the stuff of your dreams. –--- Feel that sand trickle through your toes. ---- Place as much of your body as possible in the cool shade of the palm. (Maybe next year it will be big enough to shade my whole arm!) Snorkel your very own boat-bottom reef. From which you can harvest your dinner. “A little lemon on my oysters, if you please.”

Well this sort of boat care and usage does have other positive sides. Such as no twenty foot seas or waking up in time, from a late night watch to see the huge word KING, hovering high above your port bow, mesmerizing your half-awake soul and body, until both the word, OCEAN, and the rest of the bow of the super tanker finally comes into focus. You know stuff like that.

But in lieu of all of the safety and economies of such laid-back boat ownership, most owners do elect to expend much labor and monies on that vessel so proud and pretty. The love of their life. And because it is their love, they are not hesitant to do this themselves.

Until it comes to ingesting all of that ugly, (pick-a-color), stuff. Anything but that.

That’s when they come to me and they preach to give me. -- Fortune, (Well it IS a little above minimum wage.) – Fame, (“Just wait till I tell _____ and _____ about you doing bottom jobs!), have been promised and accepted. –---- Occasionally. After all I hate that green stuff too. But then I start dreaming about something new for my own transporter-of-dreams and need the funds from a couple of bottom jobs a year to augment the boat fund. So, I listen to all of the pleas. –- Fortune, yes. Maybe some Fame is okay. –-- But never any of this First-Born stuff.

YOU get to put them through collage!

Back to school season has arrived, but it looks a little different this year. School districts across Texas are trying to figure out how to best serve and protect their students and teachers. Some are starting with virtual learning, while some want to keep classes online through the end of the year.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) anticipates back-to-school season 2020 will set a new record for back-to-school shopping, as many parents may need to purchase laptops for their children to attend school virtually. Spending across the country is expected to be $33.9 billion dollars, breaking the $30.3 billion record set in 2012. The NRF projects an average of nearly $800 to be spent by parents with elementary- through high school-aged students.

Planning can be difficult in the midst of so much uncertainty. Navigate this difficult situation by using these tips from your BBB:

• Research big ticket items. Check with your child’s school to see what technology is needed for virtual learning, and if you need to invest in high-speed internet for your home. When buying items like laptops, research the best brands for your student’s needs. Shop around for the best deals and prices and visit BBB.org to view business profiles before purchasing from a retailer.

• Shop smart. Price comparing can help you stick to your budget. Sign up for email lists from trusted retailers to receive alerts on sales and coupons and ask about student

discounts on certain items. You may also consider planning your shopping around tax-free weekend. Tax-free weekend will apply to online purchases, which will make social distancing easier during back-to-school season. For more information on tax-free weekend, you can visit comptroller.texas.gov.

• Buy in bulk. If your school returns to in-person classes, you may be asked to help provide classroom supplies like tissues or disinfecting wipes. While these are typically asked of parents during the school year, they will be especially important, and hard to find, this year. If possible, buying in bulk can help you provide plenty of classroom supplies and save you money.

• Practice online safety. Online shopping will be a popular option for buying school supplies this year. When making purchases, be sure you’re shopping with a trusted retailer and the website has a lock icon next to the URL. Only give your credit card information to a secure site. Consider teaching your children about online safety, such as recognizing tech support scams and phishing scams.

Wading through unfamiliar territory can be daunting, but your Better Business Bureau is here to help make back-to-school season a bit easier during these trying times.

For more tips, visit us at BBB.org.

A family of caracaras on Matagorda Peninsula. Photo by Susan Heath.

Thoughts From Dr. Tom

Weathering the StormBy Dr. Tom Dorrell

This weekend was a doozy. The Island got pummeled with the bad

side of a tropical storm turned CAT 1 at the last minute. I think most people stayed around. I worked through all of it as we stayed open on generator power at Surepoint ER. It was impressive even for a CAT 1. The storm surge really did a number on Bob Hall and the beach

erosion. Water was above the bulkhead at the ER and some guys in the condos behind us almost had their boats float out of their slings. The bait stands and Snoopy’s were under water

it appeared Saturday evening. Definitely enough to get your attention for what could happen if you have already forgotten what Harvey did to the North of us.

The problem with preparing for these things is that they tend to change rapidly at the last minute in both strength and path. When we start getting to a CAT 1 you never know if it will stabilize there are jump to a 2 or 3 or worse. I personally think when it is going to be predicted at a 1 we probably should hustle out of town after strapping down. No one wants sit in the heat and humidity with no AC after a storm anyway and that is if we get lucky and that is the main issue.

It will take us a while to get over this mini-catastrophe but at least the power is mostly back and everyone is cleaning up debris and getting back to going in their routine in the era of COVID. The hospitals are busy and the ICUs are full of sick patients. We are lucky the storm did not cause more issues in this setting. We are back and running as usual at the ER. We had radiology down during the power outage and height of the storm but ready now for anything. We are COVID testing those with symptoms but turn around is still delayed some. We are treating those that are ill enough to intervene although most low risk young folks do very well on their own.

I saw some Corpus locals fishing by the causeway yesterday evening but I think our area ramps and bait stands may need a little work. We need to be careful on the water because no telling what kind of debris is out there especially further South. I wonder how all the cabins did and whether Bird Island is even useable since the ramp was never fully back after Harvey. It will be interesting to make that first trip south. I hope our neighbors to the South are ok. I am afraid for Arroyo and Mansfield.

Be careful working on your homes and docks and yards. If you have an accident, come see us we are always open. Thanks Doc Tom

Island Moon on a Spoon

Southern Summer Berry & Biscuit Surprise

By Chef Vita Jarrin

Greetings Readers,

Summer is in full swing, and what a better way to enjoy the bounty of summer, than to dive into delicious sweet strawberries.

Although you see and purchase strawberries all year long, don’t assume the sweetness and juiciness is always the same. There’s something about summer and strawberries that goes hand in hand.

Now let’s ramp it up with delicious biscuits as a base and you’ll immediately be transported to a summer cottage from childhood, or a bowl your grandmother or mamma used to serve you. If you haven’t had that experience … now is the time to indulge and start making memories with your family, with this recipe.

If you’re avoiding heavier carbs such as biscuits, you can enjoy this recipe over gelato or your favorite ice cream in a bowl or inside a waffle bowl. But if you want the full Southern experience here’s what you do…

Biscuits Ingredients:

2/3 cup granulated sugar

5 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons kosher salt

pinch of cinnamon

pinch of cayenne

pinch of nutmeg

1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

2 tbsp. Crisco (adds depth and flakiness)

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Heavy cream, for brushing

Large granular raw sugar, for sprinkling over biscuits

Berries & Cream

4 cups sliced strawberries

5 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

pinch of cayenne

3 tbsps. Cognac or Bourbon of choice

1teaspoon fresh lemon juice

11/4 cups heavy cream

2 teaspoons pure vanilla paste

3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Candied Pecans or nuts of choice, for serving (optional)

Directions:

Step 1

Biscuit: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt and spices. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut in butter & Crisco until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk; stir until just combined.

Step 2

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently, once or twice to help it come together. Pat into a 10-by-7-inch rectangle, about 3/4 inch thick. Cut length wise into thirds, then crosswise into fourths to create 12 equal pieces. Using a spatula, transfer to a 9 1/2-by-12 1/2-inch rimmed baking sheet or other pan, arranging pieces to roughly re-create original rectangle but leaving 1/2 inch between them.

Step 3

Brush tops with cream; sprinkle generously with raw sugar. Bake, rotating sheet once, until golden brown and cooked through, 25 to 28 minutes Let cool on sheet 10 minutes, then carefully lift it with 2 large spatulas onto a wire rack. Let cool almost but not quite completely, about 35 to 45 minutes.

Step 4

Berries and cream: Meanwhile, combine strawberries, granulated sugar, salt, cayenne, cognac and lemon juice; let stand, stirring occasionally, until juicy, about 20 minutes. Beat cream with vanilla and confectioners’ sugar on medium high speed until stiff peaks form.

Step 5

Carefully slide biscuit onto a serving platter. Spoon 2 cups whipped cream over biscuit; top with 3 cups berry mixture, drizzling with some juices. Sprinkle with nuts and serve immediately. Serve with remaining whipped cream and berries on the side for extra goodness!

Tip of the week:

If you are short on time, or don’t really want to make the biscuits from scratch,

you can certainly create this dish with store bought biscuit dough. Follow the directions of this recipe as if you made the biscuits yourself, in order to replicate the effect. Feel free to improvise with extracts. For example, if you love a hint of orange, add a little orange extract to the strawberries, or orange rind to the biscuit dough while mixing it with the butter and Crisco. There are many ways to make this dish unique by substituting fresh peeled peaches, raspberries or blackberries, blueberries instead the strawberries. Therefore, this recipe can be made all year long. The Important thing is to have fun, try new things and Enjoy!

The day after the storm.


Moon Classifieds #850

Crossword Solution

AIR CONDITIONINGSINCE 1986

• All Makes and Models• Commercial & Residential• 10 Year Part & Labor Warranties on ALL New Equipment• Financing available

(361) 949-9545TACLB013184C

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10% Discount for Island Homes!

Prompt Professional 24 Hour ServiceNo Overtime Charges

Here’s how to place a Classified Ad

To place an ad you can call me at 361-834-1382 or

Email your ads to: [email protected]

No texts please Costs start at $12 for 25 words,

20 cents a word after that per issue. For a small additional charge, your ad can be centered, made larger or pictures or clip art can be added. Ads with payment can be taken to

our office at: 14646 Compass St., Suite 3

Deadline for classified ads is no later than NOON on Tuesday

PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE PUBLICATION

We accept American Express, Visa,

MasterCard

Legal & Business Notices Do you need to place a legal or business

notice? You’ll find that our rates for running your notice cost less than many other

publication in Nueces County. Call Arlene @ 361-834-1382

The Island Moon Weekly for more information

The Island Newspaper since 1996

Help Wanted ISLE MAIL & MORE NOW HIRING

Full or Part Time Customer Service Position

Must enjoy working closely with customers, and be proficient in Basic Computer

Applications Apply in person at 14493 SPID

or send resume to: [email protected].

Services Air Conditioning & Heating

ACH Diagnostics Air Conditioning & Heating Service

Service – Sales – Installation Basic Spring Checkup $49

Preseason Check Ups NEED A NEW SYSTEM?

Consider the following options: 10 year parts and labor warranty

Coil corrosion protection Wi-Fi thermostats Ultra violet light

TX TACLB 023885E 361-816-4924

Appliance Repair

-N- House Appliance Repair Most major brands & appliances

Also offering complete dryer vent clean outs

Mention this ad for discount on repairs 361-960-0911

Services BBQ Cleaning

CALL

Because YOU

don’t want to do it! Frank 361-813-1929 cell

361-99-GRILL (994-7455) CoastalBendGrillCleaning.com

Computer Repair Scott’s Computer Repair

PC/Mac Repair Networking Home Security Camera Installation

Cable TV & Internet Wiring Fast 24 Hour Turn-Around

Home or Business Free Pick Up and Delivery

Call 949-4604 or 425-5627 Electrical

361 ELECTRIC Residential & Commercial

Service Calls Licensed & Insured

Island Resident 361-903-2111

Pool & Spa Services ATLANTIS POOL AND SPA SERVICE

Weekly Pool Maintenance – Repairs Renovations - Chemicals – Supplies

Residential – Commercial 25 Years Experience – Insured Free Delivery! Free Estimates!

Island Resident Owned Call 361-949-8899

Wade In The Water Pool Services Cleaning • Repairs • Builds

Remodels • Hot Tubs • Warranty Station Don’t go OTB for pool & spa chemicals!

15715 SPID #101 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm FREE WATER TESTING

Locally owned and operated since 2010 Call 361-658-8581 Power Washing

ISLANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE We Power Wash

Houses, Driveways, Fences, Decks & Sidewalks

Call us now to schedule an estimate 361-949-2773

Specialty Rug Cleaning SPECIALTY RUG CLEANING &

REPAIR Persian – Oriental – Area Rugs

Cleaning, repair Remove smells

Persian rugs done by hand Appraise – Buy/Sell

361-991-9999

Services Tree Trimming

COMMERCIAL CUTTERS

Tree Trimming & Stump Grinding Services

Fully Insured – Free Estimates 361-446-3980

CC TREE SERVICE 361-443-4852

Tree Trimming & Removal Stump Grinding

A+ BBB Accredited Fully Insured

www.cctrees.net Lawn Care

Cutting Crew Lawn Maintenance We Can Help In Spring Cleaning

Let Us Help Get Your Yard In Shape We Specialize In Using

Professional Lawn Equipment ● Mowing, Trimming ● Edging, & Tree Pruning ● 4wd Tractor ● Large or Small Lots ● Pressure Washing Driveways, Decks, Homes ● Deck Repair

We can repair garage doors Over 24 years of experience

Free Estimates – Insured We take pride in our work! Call Robert 361-800-3535

AWESOME LAWN CARE, INC.

We have made sand look good since 1992

We are a complete landscape/maintenance company

We do residential and commercial work No job is too small

Please call if we can be of service 361-334-2340 Office

[email protected] awesomelawncarecorpuschristi.com

Services Lawn Care (Contd)

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* Lawn Maintenance * Power Washing * Palm Trimming * Fall Cutback * Lot Mowing * Decks * Installation

FREE ESTIMATES 361-949-2773

Home Maintenance Fences/Decks/Docks

Boat Lifts Artistic Construction

Decks, Docks, Pilings, Boat Lifts, Painting, Remodeling, Welding,

Blacksmithing, Handyman. Licensed – Insured

PIBA & BBB Member Decades of experience.

361-444-4702 [email protected]

Repair/Remodel ISLAND CREATIONS & REBLEIGH

CONSTRUCTION RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

CARPENTRY, CONCRETE, PAINTING, WATER DAMAGE,

PRESSURE WASHING, FENCING, DIRT WORK

LICENSED AND INSURED ON THE ISLAND FOR 14 YEARS

361-960-9001 Roofing

A+ ROOFING & REMODELING AC – Electrical – Fencing

Foundation Repair Painting – Plumbing

Residential & Commercial 361-438-4095

Wolfe Construction, Inc. Insurance Restoration

Specialists Roofing Residential & Commercial

Bryan Wolfe 361-949-1180

15809 El Soccorro Loop Corpus Christi TX 78418 ROOFING PROS!

Custom Home Exteriors, Inc. Tom Sheehan 361-949-2100

Engineer Inspected/Windstorm Certified Quality “Owens Corning” Shingles

Island Homeowner Roofing Padre Island

Since 1985!

Home Maintenance Stucco

GOT CRACKS? CALL THE STUCCO PROS

AT 361-949-2100 Boats For Sale

2014 18’ Sea Hunt With 90hp Yamaha

7’8” Beam – Seats Seven Canvas Top – 60 Hours Logged

Looks New No Trailer 361-867-1319 Care Groups AIM HOSPICE

A Coastal Bend Non-Profit Hospice Since 1987

Serving from Rockport for over 30 years

Offering complete caring hospice services suited to your needs.

We also offer a public grief group each Tuesday from 10:30 am to 12 pm, and a public Alzheimer’s group that meets

the 3rd Thursday of the month from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

For questions or more information please contact me at:

361-729-0507 We are located at 703 E. Concho,

Rockport TX 78382 Cynthia Guthrie, Administrator

www.aimhospicecoastal.org Al-Anon & AA Meetings Is alcohol causing a problem

in your family? Try Al-Anon

Al-Anon meets at 7:00 pm Sundays at Padre Island Baptist Church

Friends and families of problem drinkers find understanding and support

At Al-Anon Meetings An Al-Anon group meets each

Thursday at 7:00 PM at St Andrew by the Sea 14238 Encantada Ave.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS MEETINGS

The Sunset 7 AA Meetings are held on Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 7 PM

at : The Presbyterian Church

On the Island 14030 Fortuna Bay Dr.

In addition on Sunday AA Meetings are held at 8 AM at

The Pavillon on the Boardwalk Near Padre Bali

Damage to Area Cotton CropEditor’s note: We got this report from the

Cotton Council regarding the damage to the local cotton crop by Hurricane Hanna.

Overview

The Lower Rio Grande Valley was ransacked last weekend (7/25) when Hanna’s high winds and pounding rain ripped through the region destroying everything in its wake, including a promising cotton crop. As of Tuesday (7/28), rain continued to fall in some areas. Damage estimates will take time since structures, fields and roadways remain under water.

Crop Reports

Danielle Sekula, Texas A&M AgriLife IPM Agent, Lower Rio Grande Valley:

“Hurricane Hanna devastated cotton and other crops across the entire Valley. Flooding and power outages have impacted nearly everyone. I’ve called our growers and many of them have told me they’ve lost their whole crop. Cotton that was defoliated is on the ground. Harvest had barely started last week. All of our research plots are gone.

“From 14 to 15” of rain fell in Harlingen and up to 20 inches elsewhere. It’s raining today (7/28) and water is barely receding. Insurance adjusters will work with growers to determine if any of the late cotton is potentially salvageable. I’m afraid everything is going to rot.

“Farmers are happy that their corn and sorghum is harvested. But we lost a beautiful cotton crop. For some guys, it’s the third straight year for a

crop disaster. The AgriLife team, along with others, will assist growers and examine the damage. We appreciate the thoughts and prayers we’ve received from across the state.”

Justin Chopelas, JWC Consulting, Odem, Texas/Coastal Bend:

“There will be yield and quality reduction from Hanna, but the majority of the Coastal Bend got lucky. The hurricane slipped by us and turned south. Our losses are nothing compared to what they had in the Valley.

“We got one to 5 inches of rain with the wind. But it was enough to hurt our color grade. One thing is for sure, with the poor color, we’ll have plenty for mattress stuffing and Q-tips.

“Honestly, I think this would have been our best crop ever, at least in the top three. I had cotton that would have made 2,200 to 2,400 pounds, but I haven’t looked at it yet. It will be late this week before we can get ground machines in the drier areas.

“ We need good weather to get this crop harvested. We were less than 10% defoliated and below 1% picked. I picked part of one early field that yielded 3.64 bales – and it was dryland. milo yielded 8,800 pounds. That farmer had never cut over 5,000.

“Even though we feel good about the cotton crop, you get nervous after a weather event like Hanna. Good yields are in the field, but we can’t rest easy until the other tropical storm that’s brewing decides which way to turn.”

Live Music TonightThursday, July 30Free Beer Band @ Giggity’sZach Walther @ Back PorchDave’s Duo @ Shorty’s

Friday, July 31 Mike O’Neill @ Giggity’sStarlite & the Moonbeams @ Shorty’s

Saturday, August 1Dreaming in Color @ Giggity’sMario Flores @ Back PorchSelfie @ Shorty’sCC Songwriters @ House of RockJuan Lobo Fest @ Concrete Street

Sunday, August 2Antone & All Stars @ Giggity’s

Monday, August 3Open Jam @ Giggity’s

Tuesday, August 4Paul & Victoria @ Giggity’s

Wednesday, August 5Jim Dugan@ Giggity’s

Thursday, August 6Free Beer Band @ Giggity’sRuben V @ Back PorchDave’s Duo @ Shorty’s

Friday, August 7Gary P. Nunn @ Back PorchJohnny Boy @ Giggity’sIndependent Thieves @ Shorty’s

Saturday, August 8Toman Bros @ Giggity’sLarry Joe Taylor @ Back PorchTy Dietz @ Shorty’s

132 W. Cotter St. Port A On the Waterfront

TEMPORARILY CLOSED AS COVID

PRECAUTION

Sunday, August 9Antone & All Stars @

Giggity’s


Tuesday, August 11Paul & Victoria @

Giggity’s

Wednesday, August 12Jered Clark @ Giggity’s

Thursday, August 13Free Beer Band @

Giggity’sJesse Stratton @ Back

PorchDave’s Duo @ Shorty’s

Josh Ward, Copper Chief @ Brewster Street

Friday, August 14Valetta @ Sunset

SoundsBack Pew Revival

@ Giggity’sAloha Dave @ Shorty’s

Saturday, August 15BELT SANDER RACES

@ GaffMike O’Neill @ Shorty’s

Sunday, August 16Antone & All Stars @

Giggity’s


Tuesday, August 18Paul & Victoria @

Giggity’s

Wednesday, August 19Magnus @ Giggity’s

Thursday, August 20Free Beer Band @

Giggity’sDave’s Duo @ Shorty’s

Friday, August 21Groove @ Giggity’s

Matt Hole @ Shorty’s

Treasure Island

TEMPORARILY CLOSED AS COVID PRECAUTION

treasureislandporta

315 N. Alister (361) 416-1020

Mike’s Barbershop

July 30, 2020 Island Moon A16

By Ronnie Narmour

[email protected]

Three Chords and the Truth

The Gaff Open for Take Out 361-749-5970

GIGGITY’S RESTAURANT & BAR

DAIQU IR I SBEER & WINEBAIT & ICE

Laid back, slow n’ easy...

BEER HUT GOLF CART RENTALS (361)244-8654

LIVE MUSICEVERY NIGHT

Kitchen Open Until 1 a.m.!

OPEN Till 2am • 823 Tarpon St. Port A.

TEMPORARILY CLOSED AS COVID

PRECAUTION

Temporarily Closed

As Covid Precaution

Temporarily Closed as COVID Precaution

And the hits keep right on coming…

What a crazy year. What a crazy life. It’s almost like Mad Max meets The Omega Man during the Perfect Storm… with a little bit of Inglorious Bastards thrown in. Who would have thought we’d get a hurricane in the middle of a pandemic while at the same time violent riots raged throughout the country? Throw in a presidential election in less than a hundred days and we’re all set to go full goose bozo just in time for Halloween. I keep waiting for that plight of locust to darken the horizon any minute. The country is once again on partial shutdown as the COVID rates continue to soar. The good news, if there is any, is that our little Cat 1 Hurricane Hanna that just blew through, with little advance notice, turned out to be just a pretty decent storm that blew trash cans all

over the beach and trash everywhere in Port A. We know the drill. It did a number on our garden. Just like Harvey it was a tropical storm that turned into a hurricane and headed in our direction. It did shear off the end of Bob Hall Pier and caused quite a bit of damage. We got over 3 inches of rain in Port A and reported sustained winds of up to 85mph. There wasn’t any major damage in Port A ala: Harvey, but the electricity did go out for about 20 hours on both ends of the island. Padre got it much worse than we did being they are farther south of us. The Rio Grande Valley got hammered even worse. We were without electricity, cell and internet service and most importantly, we had NO air conditioning until the glorious bucket trucks could get over here on Sunday and fix us back up. It was a long, hot, muggy night sleeping with the windows open but it wasn’t Harvey bad. Not even close. We got lucky.

Texas bars are hurting…

The worst part of all this, for me at least, is that the bars in Texas will remain closed until at least

August 1 as a COVID precaution. Try writing a live music column when we have NO shows. You’ll be glad to know that I’ve exhausted the back log of material in my vault. Even more, try being a musician or a bar owner or bartender or waitress right now when the rent’s due tomorrow or yesterday. The trickledown is huge and the tentacles of the entertainment industry

reach far. We had a chance to get this thing under control but too many people got butt hurt about wearing a mask. I just read an article in the Texas Scorecard (https://texasscorecard.com/local/government-shutdowns-could-kill-nearly-all-of-austins-live-music-venues/) by Jacob Asmussen speculating what damage COVID might do to the Austin music scene saying, “Government shutdowns could kill

nearly all of Austin’s live music scene. Of the 50-something venues in the city, there’s going to be five or ten after this. I think there’s a real risk of losing 90 percent of independent music venues in the next few months.” The Austin Chamber of Commerce and the University of Houston surveyed 1000 business owners and the results revealed how the music industry is in a dire fight for survival in the Texas Music Capital of the World. “Just 19 percent of local

live music venues were able to pay their full June rent, while 83 percent laid off their full-time employees—the most layoffs among all business industries surveyed. Even more, 62 percent of local live music venues said under current government shutdowns, they would not survive past October—at the latest. In fact, some local venue owners say nearly all of them could die off.” Right now the music industry is on red alert whether you play the music, make the drinks, clean the bathrooms, or just write about it… this is scary times for all of us. If you really care about live music or people, put on a mask. With the nation’s death toll now averaging 900 deaths a day, we must find a way to put this beast behind us.

Beach access closed & curfew…

Me and my mermaid gal recently walked down to the beach behind the Beach Lodge and were surprised at the number of vehicles including golf carts, tents, chairs, gathering of more than ten people… a few much more than ten people. It looked pretty normal but I was confused so

I looked up the official order coming out of Nueces Country and I guess some folks didn’t get the memo or don’t care. I didn’t see any police presence but we weren’t there long. Here is the order:

The City of Corpus Christi, City of Port Aransas and Nueces County have closed all beach access roads and City of Corpus Christi parks beginning on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. through Saturday, August 1, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. There is a daily beach curfew in place starting at 8:30 p.m. and ending at 6:00 a.m. each day until Saturday, August 1, 2020.Access roads to all City of Corpus Christi and Nueces County beaches are closed to vehicular traffic, including golf carts and all-terrain vehicles. This also includes beach access on North Beach and McGee Beach. Tents, canopies, sitting, lying down, eating, or sleeping is not allowed on both North Beach and McGee Beach only. Physical activity and exercise such

as walking, running, yoga, etc. will be allowed on North Beach and McGee Beach.

New ferry stacking lanes…

The Texas Department of Transportation has announced the opening of new stacking lanes for the Port Aransas ferry beginning today, Thursday, July 30 at 8a.m. This facility is a major feature of a $9 million TxDot project to build the lanes and other improvements. The goal is to keep vehicles waiting for a ferry to stay off public streets and Cut-off Road. This change will cause noteworthy changes to Port A traffic patterns. Access to the stacking lanes will be from northbound Cut-off Road only and there will be no access to the ferries from Cotter Avenue and no access to the stacking lanes from southbound Cut-off Road, Avenue A or Port Street. Traffic exiting the ferries will continue to travel to the Cut-off Road /Cotter intersection.

♫♪♫ And, that’s the truth ♫♪♫Beach accesses are closed in Nueces County. Photo by Richard Anthony

Gleason.

Hurricane Hanna brought the bucket trucks back out to get our lights back on

this weekend.

Hurricane Hanna produced a lot of trash. Photo by Steve Coons.

The bars down at the flats area took a little hit from Hurricane Hanna but a big hit from COVID closings.

Photo by Steve Coons.

We have new stacking lanes at the ferry landing.

Stormy Weather A2 Island Outdoors A11 Beaches …• Teeth Whitening Dental Services 361-867-1800...

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