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Fires rekindle awful memories
The recent 80-acre blaze on Harbor Island and the inferno burning through swaths of Los Angeles have gotten me thinking about the many fires I’ve covered as a reporter. Sometimes,...
DEI boogeyman triggers conservatives
While New Orleans and Las Vegas are still attempting to process the New Year’s Day violence that gripped their cities, some are trying to capitalize perversely (and unsuccessfully) on such...
Democrats misgovern as inferno consumes LA
It’s easy to blame California’s Democrats for the devastating fires that killed at least five people and destroyed more than 5,000 homes in Los Angeles this week. It’s the Democrats...
Public invited to free live concert at PACT
A free concert is set for Monday, Jan. 20, at the Port Aransas Community Theatre. Singer songwriter, Carol Elliott and...
Wildlife in Focus contest deadline nears
Photographers who wish to participate in the 2025 Wildlife in Focus (WIF) photo contest should take note that the deadline...
Fiesta fun
An upcoming event will help send Port Aransas students on an educational trip to Washington D.C. “Fiesta,” will be from...
See attractive abodes at annual Home Tour
Self-guided tours of 10 Port Aransas homes will be featured at the 35th annual Port Aransas Garden Club Home Tour,...
Marlins on hot streak
Question: How did the Marlins achieve such lopsided wins over Refugio and Skidmore Tynan? Answer: They’re maturing as a team,...
Girls battle Refugio, Skidmore
A variety of problems figured into the Lady Marlins’ losses to Refugio and Skidmore Tynan. The Port Aransas girls fell...
Eighth-grade boys get tournament win
The eighth-grade boys from Brundrett Middle School won the “B” basketball tournament in Flour Bluff on Saturday, Jan. 11. Gregory-Portland...
BMS boys and girls beat Refugio’s teams
Brundrett Middle School basketball teams did a good job of caging the Bobcats. Port A players triumphed in all four...
TV game show to include Port A students
Port Aransas High School will go up against Beeville’s A.C. Jones High School in a televised game of Challenge! on...
Port Aransas school board to be recognized on Jan. 22
The Port Aransas ISD Board of Trustees will be honored at a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22, as part of...
Casting a line
Claude Farmer of Alice fishes from Ancel Brundrett Pier on Monday, Jan. 13. ‘Fishing keeps me out of trouble,’ he...
Anglers hook reds, snapper
Redfish have been great on live shrimp and cut mullet on the north and south jetties, according to an online...
We are one community
Pastor’s PenIn his first letter to the church in Corinth, St. Paul offered a metaphor to teach about the new community...
When the doorbell rings
Coffee GirlI am an incredible person. Not the impressive kind of incredible. More the I-didn’t-know-anyone-could-be-that-clueless kind of incredible. A few days...
Session begins
State of AffairsThank you for allowing me the privilege of once again serving the people of House District 32. I am proud...
Sea whips wash up
Mustang and Padre Islands are hosting an unusual guest: sea whip soft coral. These fascinating marine organisms are washing up...
Winter Texans make migration to Port Aransas
“Once you go there, you’ll know you’ll never want to leave her - my island in the Gulf of Mexico,” Patsy Jones crooned on Sue Goschinski’s Bluetooth speaker. “Yup, you never want to leave,” Goschinski said, sitting on a leather sofa in her fifth wheel camper parked at an RV park in Port Aransas. Her neighbor and close friend, Fran...
Water restrictions clarified
What’s allowed, what’s notScott Mack recently clarified the water district’s stance on water usage during Stage 3 restrictions. It is acceptable to rinse boats, houses, cars and golf carts, he said. Mack, manager of Nueces County Water Control and Improvement District No. 4, said there is nothing in the restrictions prohibiting power washing. “As long as it’s rinsing and it is not abused,...
Port A looks at changing sign ordinance
City leaders are looking at ways the town’s sign ordinance might be revised. During its Dec. 19 meeting, the City Council voted to have the ordinance reviewed by the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission. According to Nicole Boyer, the current ordinance allows city officials to consider a sign’s content – its words – when deciding whether the sign is permissible....
Galaxy of fun
Workers put together what will be a planetarium-style piece of playground equipment at Roberts Point Park on a recent day. Children who go inside the dome will be able to look up and see where constellations are located.
Winter concert
The band Unrehearsed and Unashamed performs at a recent Winter Sounds concert at the Port Aransas Community Theatre. Band members are from left, Lyle Mathews of Corpus Christi, Mike Jones of La Grange and Ken Yarbrough of Corpus Christi. The concert was the first in the series of three concerts. The next concerts are scheduled on Jan. 20 and Feb....
Construction for congregation
Workers continue to piece together the structure that will become the new sanctuary building for Community Presbyterian Church in Port Aransas. This photo was shot on Monday, Jan. 13. The building replaces an historic church structure that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Harvey. The new sanctuary was designed to look like the old one.
Jellyfish topic at UTMSI lecture
A sea creature that has drifted along on oceans’ currents for millions of years will be discussed at the lecture series hosted by the University of Texas Marine Science Institute on Thursday, Jan. 16. The lecture on jellyfish will be held at UTMSI’s Patton Center for Marine Science Education, located at 855 E. Cotter Ave. The auditorium doors will open...
Cold-stunned sea turtles rescued from area waters
The Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) reportedly has received more than 30 cold-stunned sea turtles in recent days as a result of frigid weather hitting Texas waters. As of Monday, Jan. 13, the ARK – part of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas – had transferred 28 of the turtles to the Texas State Aquarium and four...
Talking about beach finds
Julie Findley of Port Aransas, left, talks about shells found on the beach with Kim Hamilton and Tony Kemper, both of Terre Haute, Ind., during a Beach Walk on Friday, Jan. 3. Findley leads the free guided, informative beach walks the first Friday of each month. The event is sponsored by the City of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department.
Bond money at work
Crews from Brooke Paving of Robstown prepare a section of Port Street for repaving on Wednesday, Jan. 8. It’s one of many street projects that have taken place over the past 12 months in Port Aransas. The projects have been financed by a $6.5 million bond approved by voters in 2022.
Port A sales tax allocation up
The sales tax allocation for sales made in November 2024 in Port Aransas was 2.28 percent higher than the same period in 2023, according to the latest information released by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The increase netted a payment for the reporting period of $200,445.78, compared to the November 2023 payment of $195,968.63. The allocations are for sales...
Brick-by-brick
Workers build a wall that’s part of the new fire department and EMS facility that’s going up on Ninth Street in Port Aransas. This photo was snapped on Monday, Jan. 13. The $10.6 million complex is going to replace headquarters that were ruined by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Meanwhile, the first responders are working out of temporary buildings.
Let there be light
Micah Taylor, an employee of Big State Electric of San Antonio, works on a light fixture at the new law enforcement center under construction in Port Aransas on Wednesday, Jan. 8. No firm date has been established for when police will begin operating out of the building, but they’re hoping to start moving furniture in within the month or so.
Registration opens for Old-Lympics
Registration has opened for the 28th annual Winter Old-Lympics. The event, a doubles tournament for tennis partners whose ages add up to 100 or more, will be Feb. 15 and 16 at the Port Aransas ISD tennis courts. Players who are rated by the United States Tennis Association must be rated 3.5 or less. Registration and fees must be turned...
Story and craft
A story time for kids was hosted by the William R. ‘Bill’ Ellis Memorial Library on Saturday, Jan. 11. Kids listened to the story ‘After the Fall,’ about Humpty Dumpty and what he did and learned after his fall off the wall. After the story they made plastic egg maracas for the craft. Participating were from left, Rae Mooney, mother...
A night with Elvis
Vince King and the Vegas Mafia Band returned to Port Aransas for two sold-out nights Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10 and 11. The Port Aransas Community Theatre was packed with Elvis Presley fans. King and the band entertained those who attended with an array of Elvis’s hits. The photos on this page were shot on Friday.
Fieldwork in the Florida Keys
Institute InsightsFor the past two summers, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a research vessel in the Florida Keys to study queen conch. Have you ever ordered at a restaurant in Florida or the Caribbean and saw conch on the menu? Conch salad is a fresh favorite. It’s a ceviche-style dish with fresh peppers, tomatoes, and citrus juices. Cracked conch...
Dinner’s served
The Courtyard condominiums staged its fourth annual barbecue for winter guests Thursday, Feb. 22, 1996. The Courtyard treated its guests to the gala event at the end of each season. ‘It’s an end of the year thing and a lot of fun,’ said staff member Janet Ghiselli. Preparing food for the 140 guests were managers Jo and Wayne Williams, Pauline...
